April 2024

McDougal as Special Projects Manager

story by Sue Horn and Janice Daniel Mayor and Council of the City of Villa Rica met for a Special Called Meeting Tuesday, April 2, 2024, 4:00 p.m. with all council members present.There were two items on the agenda.

The first item was a Resolution to adopt an agreement with the Department of Public Health regarding the WIC building’s relocation to Powell Park with a lease of $5.00 per year. That was approved by council unanimously. It was the second item that sparked an open discussion among council and mayor: a Resolution that City Manager TomBarber terminate past city mayor Gil McDougal from his compensated position as Special Projects

NAACP Environmental Climate

Justice Event: “Addressing Environmental Equity as a Community”

April 20, 2024, 9:30-noon at Legends West Park

The Carroll County NAACP’s Environmental Climate Justice Event will be held Saturday, April 20th, 9:30 a.m. until noon at Legends West Park, Carrollton. “Addressing Environmental Equity as a Com unity” has the goal to bring together resources empowering access to sustainable housing, fresh local food, healthy lifestyle choices, and interfaith creation care connections - resources that the Richards

At the March 26, 2024 Carroll County Board of Health meeting, discussion was held concerning the raw sewage spill from the Carrollton Nursing and Rehabilitation facility. The decision was made to draft a letter to EPD to “do something about the problem”. StarNews first learned of and reported on this long time large spill13,000 gallons a day - last October. At press time, the spill continues.

See 13,000 GALLONSA DAY page 10

All-volunteer Carrollton Wind Ensemble seeking donations for “Day of Music” for children/women displaced by Ukraine war

Thecommunity lost a benevolent and uniquely sagacious longtime leader with the passing of Dr. Fred Richards, Carrollton. Fred Richards, 85, died March 27, 2024. He was born January 12, 1939 in Baltimore, MD, son of story by Wayne J. Reynolds

See CLIMATE JUSTICE EVENT page 15

THE PIONEER SALES TEAM!

Every Tuesday evening, a group of local volunteers meet for two hours to practice and rehearse as part of The Carrollton Wind Ensemble. This resident ensemble of the Carrollton Center for the Arts was founded in 2011 and is under the direction of Carroll Symphony Orchestra Conductor Terry Lowry. They perform 30 to 40 concerts a year in concert halls, schools, nursing homes, churches, area businesses and veteran’s park events.

See SEEKING DONATIONS page 4 “. . . will be around 200 children. . . We will also be taking up an honorarium at each concert to raise money to give to the International Rescue Committee”

- Terry Lowry

Above, Villa Rica City Manager Tom Barber busied himself either with his cell phone or writing on a piece of paper while council and mayor discussed firing him due to his behavior since the December election of the new mayor whom he openly opposed and stated in writing that he had “no interest in working with”.

Above, Villa Rica City Mayor Leslie McPherson and Council Member Danny Carter listen to Council Member Stephanie Warmoth who minced no words in her criticism of City Manager Tom Barber. Photos by Sue Horn from press release

Gil McDougal’s salary was $125,000 yearly and was employed for 7 weeks : $16,827

story by Sue Horn

Greg Benton, Robby Byrom, Ashley Bryant, Bob Winiarczyk, Cindy Brown, Kemp Owens, Tommy Crook, Dwight Ezzell, Heather Garner

SATURDAY, MAY 4

9AM-3PM DOWNTOWN CARROLLTON

CARROLLTONGA.COM/MAYFEST

Join us for an altogether crafty festival full of fun! Browse handmade arts and crafts by hundreds of vendors, located all around our vibrant downtown. Enjoy tasty local eats and explore our unique specialty shops. Stop by The Amp for family-friendly entertainment throughout the day. Mayfest is Carrollton’s most popular festival – come find out why!

SEEKING

from front page

“You will find us at many community events,” said Lowry. “This group is an important part of the community. They are volunteers and are not paid. In fact, to a great extent they pay to play. There are about 60 members and they are an amazing group of people!” The all-volunteer Ensemble consists of musicians performing on flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, alto Saxophone, tenor saxophone, trumpet, french horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba, and percussion.

The Ensemble and Lowry, have chosen to partner with the International Rescue Committee for a performance tour in Italy to benefit women and children who have been displaced by the war in Ukraine.

Lowry said, “I have been at this for a long time and get invitations from all over, including international festivals and those invitations will include the Wind Ensemble. Out of these invitations, the group chose to do an Italian concert tour which will include concerts in Venice, Rome and two in Florence. The group chose, rather just to have a vacation, to try to do some good while there.

“So we have partnered with the International Rescue Committee [www.rescue.org] who work primarily with women and children from the Ukraine who have been displaced due to the war. The men must stay in defense of their country.

“So, we will be doing ‘A Day of Music’ for the children who have been displaced by the war. We will spend an entire day working with what we think will be around 200 children. We will give them a chance to make music either again or for the first time. We will also be taking up an honorarium at each concert to raise money to give to the International Rescue Committee so they can perhaps continue what we have started.”

Thetrip is scheduled June 10th through the 18th taking over 30 players and 15 friends and family. Yes, they will do the normal tourist activities but will spend that one day, by their own decision, giving back.

The trip will cost around $250,000 with the majority of the cost paid for by the players. Each participant must either fund it themselves or work toward paying down their portion of the account. They have done some fundraising to help. Some participants are college students, so their task is a little harder.

Lowry stressed, “This trip has not been given to them. They have worked for it. The community has been wonderful sup-

porting us knowing we are representing them! Any assistance through donation will be greatly appreciated. We need these 30 players so we can do the concerts. The money will help fund the trip as your cultural ambassadors and toward the ‘Day of Music’ as well! It is a 501C3 tax donation.”

Lowery is also the conductor of The Carroll Symphony Orchestra which is the parent group of The Carrollton Wind Ensemble. Lowry went to high school in Bowdon and has been performing with Steinway since he was 7 years old, first with his father. He has made his living as a concert pianist.

In addition to the Sympathy and Wind Ensemble, Lowry is also musical director of The Carrollton Jazz Orchestra, Atlanta by Six, The Carroll Sympathy Youth Orchestra, and The Carroll County Community Chorus.

Where The Wind Ensemble is a local volunteer group, The Carroll Sympathy Orchestra, for the past 21 years, is an all professional orchestra where the goal is to get the best musicians possible, regardless of where they are from. They have a three part mission. First is to enrich the lives of the children. One unique aspect is through a statewide competition the orchestra performs original works by the children and is the only competition of its kind. Second is to be an engine for cultural and economic development in our area. It enhances the lives of our residents. And third is to introduce new music as well as performing the classics. Since their inception, the orchestra has performed over 350 new compositions, the most of any orchestra in the country.

“We think we can help make this area a better place to raise a family,” said Lowry. “There are more than 300 people who come to the Arts Center each week to play in these various groups.”

The orchestra performs six to

Ryan Whitley

eight times a year. Each performance costs approximately $40,000. It is all financed through fundraising including a “wonderful partnership with the city. And in 22 years we have never finished a year in the red. And that is all possible because of the support of the community who believe in us! We have to raise about $3500 a week, so we truly appreciate any support we receive,” said Lowry.

To hear some of what the Wind Ensemble performs, visit the Carrollton Wind Ensemble page at Musical Overture. https://musicaloverture. com/videos/by/CarrolltonWindEnsemble.

To offer your support with a donation: Carroll Symphony Orchestra memo CWE Italy P.O. Box 1756, Carrollton GA 30112. www.my carrollsymphony.com

Chamber of Commerce

City of Carrollton mayor and council in agreement to prohibit vape shops; currently operating shops allowed to continue

story by Janice Daniel

The Mayor and Council of the City of Carrollton met on Tuesday, March 21, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. for a monthly work session where they discussed upcoming business and took care of three voting items.

City Engineer Tommy Holland detailed the Carrollton Holding Pond Raw Water Pipe Project. Holland said that the project consists of installing approximately 3,600 linear feet of piping from the Carrollton Water Holding Pond to the Carrollton Water Treatment Plant. He added that the Carrollton Water Holding (settling) Pond has recently been completed.

Three bids were received for this project.

Council voted to award Haren Construction Company, Inc. for the work at a price of $942,000. Haren had the highest score and the lowest bid.

City Manager David Brooks detailed Resolution 02-2024, stating that the city hired the Carl Vinson Institute (UGA) to complete an update to the 2005 Carrollton Downtown Master Plan last year. Brooks reported that the plan is complete, and a public meeting was held on February 27th to introduce the draft final plan to the public, and that the plan is ready for adoption.

Council voted unanimously to approve this plan.

Council also voted unanimously to approve Resolution 04-2024 which is abandonment of a portion of Columbia Court.

Community Development Director Erica Studdard presented four Rezoning Requests and two Annexation & Rezoning Requests

which will be for council to consider at the April meeting.

Studdard also presented a Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) Amendment for discussion regarding vape shop restrictions.

Mayor and council were in consensus to prohibit the shops entirely in the City of Carrollton, with any currently operating shops being allowed to continue operating.

Another UDO Amendment was discussed regarding design standards for new townhome construction requiring sod in the front and side yards; vehicles only allowed to park on paved areas designated for parking; and various new architectural relief elements such as vertical or horizontal modulation, exterior siding, porches, windows, roofs, garages, pedestrian entry, orientation, etc.

This amendment was brought up in 2022 and tabled at that time, but is now coming before council again in the April meeting.

Other items discussed were the Huffman Group Cedar Street Project, the golf cart ordinance, and a Board of Appeals appointment, as well as the FY 25 upcoming Budget.

After an executive session (secret/non-public) the meeting was adjourned.

City of Carrollton Mayor is Betty Cason; council members: Ward 1, Jacqulene Bridges; Ward 2, Brettledbetter; Ward 3, Stacie Gibbs, and Ward 4, Bob Uglum. City Manager is David J. Brooks. City Clerk is Haley Beaver.

Meetings are held (not holidays) on the first Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in the Ppublic safety annex/Municipal Courtroom, 115West Cetner Street, Carrollton.

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DEFIANT CITY MANAGER from front Manager by/before the following day at 12:00 noon Wednesday, April 3, 2024, and if he does not, then mayor or mayor pro tem will perform the termination.

Council Member Danny Carter made the motion to approve the Resolution, with Council Member Stephanie Warmoth seconding. Mayor Leslie McPherson asked if there was any discussion? An extended discussion followed in which the mayor and each council member - with the exception of Council Member Shirly Marchman - spoke on Barber and his unwillingness and refusal to follow council’s instructions concerning McDougal. Marchman defended Barber.

City Attorney David Mecklin, who prepared this Resolution, said he believes it is what the majority of council wants, and that it does not create a precedent of giving the mayor power to hire and fire city employees. He said, “the city charter provides that the mayor and council have general supervisory authority over the running of the city, and ordinarily would not have the right to hire and fire employees. This resolution is specific to Gil McDougal only. The only way council would have the power to hire and fire would be in an open meeting, by majority vote of council, applying only to one specific person.”

This Special CalledMeeting was found to be necessary due to Barber not following the “will of the council” (see March 17th front page story: Villa Rica City Manager Tom Barber suspended for 5 days without pay and with stipulations: “Barber does not care about the will of the people”). He had been instructed by council on March 4th to terminate Gil McDougal as Deputy City Manager, but he did not, and, in fact, Barber changed McDougal’s job position to Special Projects Manager with the same pay as he was receiving as Deputy

City Manager: $125,000 a year. Defeated mayor Gil McDougal and City Manager Tom Barber began working in tandem midDecember to wrest and retain control of the city’s business through a hiring tactic that was initially successful, but failed after three weeks. One part of the tactic involved accusing winning mayoral candidate Leslie McPherson of alleged malfeasance while she was a council member which required opening an investigation. The other part to retain control was the hiring of McDougal as Deputy City Manager under Barber.

Also, Barber stated publicly in a letter dated November 21, 2023 and mailed to the homes in the Augusta Woods subdivision, that: “I have made it clear that if Mrs. McPherson wins next month’s runoff, I’ll have to look for another job. I simply have no interest in working with someone who.... will be ineffective. . .”

Also, at the December 12, 2023, regular meeting - and last meeting for Mayor Gil McDougal - a Resolution was adopted unanimously by council to use investigative powers to determine if former council member and mayor-elect, Leslie McPherson, was guilty act(s) of “malfeasance”. This action forced Mayor-elect McPherson to hire and incur the costs of an attorney for what turned out to be baseless accusations by the former mayor and council.McPherson’s attorney also ended up defending the city’s charter which led to the actions at the March 4th Special Called Meeting, concerned the investigation of McPherson. Mecklin referred to a motion made by council on Dec. 12th during regular meeting which directed him as city attorney to conduct an independent investigation of the actions of Mayor McPherson, in an accusation of malfeasance of office. Mecklin advised council that there was complete closure of the malfeasance

See NO MALFEASANCE page 29

“I feel privileged to have served as Carroll County’s District 5 Commissioner from 2016 to Spring 2019. I bring experienced leadership and have had certified commissioner training! I understand how the county works and will save our county money! Carroll County has been my home for 25 years, and my desire is to again serve the people of District 5 to ensure that we protect the rural heritage and traditions of our community. I am a strong supporter of our county employees and first responders. I will also make a firm commitment to make sure there is transparency in all of our commission decisions, operations, and departments. I humbly ask for your vote in the Primary Election on May 21,” Respectfully, Lee Powers

Lee Powers

13,000 GALLONSA DAY from front page

Acting on a tip and utilizing Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A.§50-18-70), StarNews obtained information, photographs, and videoes from Carroll County government and the state revealing a long time ongoing large environmental spill from the Carrollton Nursing and Rehabilitation facility, 2327 Highway 27, Carrollton.

Carrollton Nursing and Rehabiliation facility, built in 1986, is spilling (through flushing/draining) an estimated 13,000 gallons of raw sewage per day running through a nonoperational onsite treatment.

The raw sewage spill was discovered one full year ago, April 26, 2023, by an employee of the Carroll County Department of Environmental Health (CCDEH).

Records showed that the Georgia EPD was repeatedly informed of the spill and had to be dogged by a CCDEH employee into finally visiting the site May 2023, to which Georgia EPD employee Brian Boutelle, Stormwater and Drinking Water, told StarNews that EPD “did not see unpermitted discharges”.

StarNews contacted Boutelle again in October who emailed stating EPD had visited the nursing home in October and that “there was not an observed sewage spill.”

StarNews obtained and posted videos online (www.starnewsgaonline.com) taken November 28, 2023 that show the raw sewage still flowing.

EPD has not, as of press time, April 9, 2024, fulfilled their obligation to stop this environmental contamination. This site is strictly under EPD jurisdiction to inspect/monitor.

At the March 26, 2024, Carroll County Board of Health meeting, Carroll County Commission Chariman Michelle Morgan, who is a board of health member, spoke to the board about the sewage problem at this facility and that the county is having a difficult time getting EPD to “do something” about the problem. Carroll County School System Superintendent representative Terry Jones, who is board of health vice chair, asked how the county government wanted to handle this? Morgan said to hold “EPD liable for their responsibilities”.

Morgan made a motion that she, along with several others, would work together to get the information put together and draft a letter to EPD. They would then send this draft to all board of health members for approval. The

NOTICE OF LAST DATE TO CLAIM CARROLL ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION CAPITAL CREDITS REFUNDED IN 2018

In compliance with O.C.G.A. § 44-12236 of The Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act, Carroll Electric Membership Corporation (“Carroll EMC”) is attempting to locate former members whose capital credit checks were issued in 2018, but which have been returned by the U. S. Post Office as “undeliverable” or have otherwise been unclaimed.

A current list of these members, and a list of their last known addresses and instructions for claiming these funds, is posted on Carroll EMC’s website at http://www.carrollemc.com.

The last possible date to claim these funds is October 4, 2024. Funds which are not claimed by this date will be used for economic development, education or donated for charitable uses, as permitted by O.C.G.A. § 44-12-236.

To claim a refund or submit any questions about this notice or the list, please contact 770-832-3552.

county attorney and community development will also assist with the draft.

Once approved by the health board, it would be sent to the EPD office. This motion was seconded by Dr. Jenny Schuessler. Motion passed unanimously.

In addition to Morgan, those working on the draft letter are Jake Holloway, environmental health manager, Carroll County Department of Environmental Health; Dr. Laura Larson, health board chair ; and Carrollton City Mayor Betty Cason, health board member

The next Carroll County Board of Health meeting is scheduled for May 28, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Tanner Medical Center, Board Room #1, 705 Dixie Street, Carrollton, GA 30117. These are public meetings.

Virtual: Join the meeting from computer, tablet or smartphone:

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story by Janice Daniel

The Carroll County Board of Education met for a monthly work session Monday, March 18, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. with all members present.

A presentation was made about how far ahead Carroll County District is in the Literacy Program introduced two years ago by the Georgia Legislature. This program was in response to low reading levels of Georgia students, and included a Dyslexia Task Force. Carroll County educators reached out to the State Department of Education and learned about the new Science of Reading program; trained teachers, leaders, and coaching instructors; and updated the district’s curriculum to embrace the new reading system.

The method begins with children in the first grade to teach them phonics, learn letters, how to read and comprehend what they read, and includes an intervention process for children who may be struggling. Studies have shown that children who are not able to read well by the end of third grade will fall behind in every other subject and are more likely to drop out of school.

Board Member Lawana Knight reported on her participation in the CCA Board of Directors meeting at the 12 for Life facility, and toured the Industrial Maintenance Lab pathway recently added to the program. The lab is used by students to learn how to diagnose and repair machinery.

Knight said there was a representative from Tanner who advised of the great need for respiratory nurses in the medical field, and also that Mike Bell Chevrolet had donated a truck for those in the automotive career path.

These are three of the career paths offered in partnership with UWG to give high school students advance training in skill trades and the health care industry.

Assistant Superintendent of Finance Delene Wolfe presented January 31, 2024 Financial Report. Revenues Year-to-Date were $111,375,059 (61% of Budget) and Expenditures for same period of $87,348,693 (47% of Budget) with a General Fund balance at $49,421,976 after encumbrances.

The tentative schedule for the 2025/26 Budget year is May 2024 tentative budget adoption, July 2024 tentative adoption of millage rate, and August 2024 tentative schedule of public hearings.

In the assumptions made, employee compensation is the highest percentage of expenditures, but many of the numbers needed are as yet unknown, the budget is subject to many changes before its adoption.

Board Member Cater raised the subject of Carroll County’s payment to substitute teachers being about half of what other nearby counties are paying. Superintendent Scott Cowart said substitute pay is scheduled to increase by 20% and promised to let the board know how 2025’s substitute teacher pay will then compare to surrounding areas.

Board unanimously approved the natural gas bid from Gas South, the past three years’ provider, who quoted 0.585/therm, down from 0.69/therm last year. The new price is good from 4/1/24 through 3/31/25.

After Executive Session, board voted to approve personnel actions recommended by the superintendent. Meeting was adjourned. Carroll County school board: revenues at 61% of budget; expenditures at 47%; $49.4M in reserves

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Villa Rica’s aged infrastructure repair estimates in $1M range; budget does not provide enough to cover: $4 per month fee per household discussed instead of raising millage rate

story by Janice Daniel

The Mayor and council of the City of Villa Rica met for their monthly work session Tuesday morning, March 12, 2024 at 11:30 a.m. Discussion included community development issues that would require a public hearing for later in the day at the regular meeting scheduled for 6:00, p.m. Council and mayor also spoke at length about the Stormwater Utility Proposal that will also be up for a vote at the 6:00 p.m. meeting.

Consent Agenda - for a single vote at the 6:00 p.m. meeting - was prepared as follows:

1.Request for $1,000 sponsorship of the Keep Carroll Beautiful Spring E-Recycling event on April 13, 2024 at the V-Plex. Keep Carroll Beautiful’s representative was at the meeting and reported that last year was a most successful period of recycling, and that a list of electronic items accepted on April 13th will be on the Keep Carroll Beautiful website

2.Proposal to update and revise the current mandatory building and construction codes as adopted by Georgia Department of Community Affairs. Chief Building Official Matthew Alexander,spoke of three areas of construction where he believes Villa Rica needs to revise the current building codes. He said many construction companies are using a concrete with fibermesh to pour building foundations, and this mixture does not hold up well. He is asking council to change the city’s code to require a metal-based concrete mixture for foundations. Alexander also showed council an example of the thin material that can currently be classified as “walls” under the Georgia code. He said the code should be changed to require 7/16” minimum OSB for wall constructions.

The third change was in regard to the code for electrical wire. Currently, builders can use a copper-wire sheathing with an aluminum core rather than solid copper for electrical wiring. He said this cheaper material is not available here, but out-of-state builders who bring their own materials sometimes use it. The aluminum inside the copper is prone to get much hotter than the solid copper and can cause appliance failures and house fires, even in newly-constructed homes.

3.Tiffany Jenkins, Human Resources Department, presented a request to adopt the most recent IRS-approved agreement of the Georgia Municipal Employees Benefits Systems Defined Benefit Retirement Plan Restatement, which required no discussion since it is an IRS mandated change.

4.Request to add 25 additional parking spaces to the Fullerville Soccer Fields, presented by Hal Burch. Burch said the city’s Public Works Department has completed the base work required for the project. He is presenting to council his choice out of the five bids submitted for the asphalt and concrete portions of the parking lot. He suggested RP Paving, who will do the asphalt only, and West Georgia Pool Pros for the concrete curb, gutter, sidewalks and ADA ramps. He said the two companies will coordinate together as to the order of construction of each component. Total cost is $34,849.70 to be funded by the 2015 Carroll SPLOST.

5.Request for formal adoption of an ADA Transition Plan to be submitted to the Georgia Department of Transportation EEO Office. City Manager Tom Barber said that Bobby Elliott had prepared a list identifying where the

city was deficit in this required plan and the estimated length of time that will be needed to keep Villa Rica ADA (American Disabilities Act) compliant. Barber said the city has to be in compliance with this plan in order to be eligible for state grants.

A lot of time was spent discussing the Stormwater Utility Proposal which had been requested on November 8, 2023 with proposals due on December 15, 2023. The stormwater work plan consists of operations and maintenance, environmental administration, design and construction. Three companies submitted proposals in response to the 2023 RFPs, which have currently been reviewed by Jameson Green, Watershed Protection/Stormwater Manager; Bobby Elliott, Engineering Consult-

ant; and Mark Teal, PE, Engineering Consultant. Staff recommends Integrated Science & Engineering, LLC as the best consultant for this project at a cost of $135,500. This cost is just for the study to determine the city’s “impervious surface layer” (areas covered by water-resistant materials such as concrete and asphalt), which is the surface areas required to calculate a table of projected fees for separate land uses. Commercial and industrial entities will have their impervious surfaces measured. Residential homes will simply be a rooftop count with all houses considered equal. Barber said that stormwater management is currently funded through the city’s General Fund (cash reserve), some of its Capital

Remodeling

Wallace Farm

Citizens continue to be direct with Villa Rica council and mayor about their concerns

story by Janice Daniel

The Mayor and Council of the City of Villa Rica met Tuesday, March 12, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. for regular monthly meeting.

In Public Comment, there were several citizens there for the third or fourth time to ask

Improvement Programs, and Special Purpose

Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) at a total of about $50,000 per year, but the amount needed to fix the city’s aged infrastructure is in the $1 million range, and the budget does not provide for that much money. Stormwater management is the third component of city infrastructure, the other two being sewer and water. Currently, the city’s stormwater ultimately goes into creeks and lakes, but a significant portion of it is going into basements, road destruction, driveway destruction, downtown business doorways.

In a question/answer discussion between mayor and council members with Barber, the following information was provided:

- city needs to be doing everything to make sure they are managing expenses in a frugal and responsible manner just as individuals have to budget their own money

- commercial and industrial entities as well as apartment complexes will pay significantly more than individual households due to the larger areas of impervious surfaces they have in terms of square feet, offset by the effectiveness of stormwater retention systems they have in place

- mayor and council feel that most citizens would prefer a set fee, $4.00 per month has been estimated, rather than see their property taxes increased: $4.00 per month is $48.00 per year; one mil of property tax = $1,000 per year

council to deny the rezoning of the area at Whitworth Road and Highway 61, basically reiterating what has already been said at the last three council meetings.

Also speaking was citizen Christy Chastain who said that City Clerk Theresa Campbell had

procedures is a one-time fee, and is not enough money to fund a citywide stormwater management system

- a stormwater management fee is an indirect fee where citizens will see the benefits in ways similar to the curbside pick-up fee of unwanted furniture and brush piles

- city as a whole will see immediate benefits in the prevention of road wash-outs

This item was not placed on the Consent Agenda due to the fact that council members and citizens watching the video may come up with further questions and concerns.

City Attorney Kevin Drummond advised council that Villa Rica is in Region 6 of Georgia for the Opioid Settlement Suit, and an elected official or a city employee must attend a meeting in Hamilton, Georgia on March 27th to learn about how the money will be distributed. Barber said he will send someone.

helped her find, through Open Records, documents of the applications received for Deputy City Manager. Of the ten who met the minimum qualifications, four had Masters in Public Administration, one had a Bachelor’s in Public Administration, all had at least ten years of government admin work experience, others had other types of degrees, even one with a law degree. She said the individual who was hired for the job [past mayor Gil McDougal] did not even meet the minimum qualifications.

available now in a 2024 version.

Citizen Doug Lang asked council to consider a one-year automatic denial on vape shop applications because there are already so many in the City. Lang also thinks the ordinance should be changed to reduce the number of vape stores allowed in the city.

- stop-work orders on developers who are not providing adequate stormwater management

There was one Public Comment by Mr. Greg Roberts of 2142 Brookdale Street who said the HOA meeting he attended was full of people who were shocked and embarrassed by the fact that the Council voted to appoint a former elected official to a City position, and said he will not vote for his Council representative if they were one of the ones who approved that decision, even though the vote had to be rescinded due to conflicts with the Personnel Policy of the City. He said he had nothing against the former elected official, but thought the Council’s decision was a horrible one. Meeting was then adjourned. STORMWATER

Citizen Larry Cohrs brought a book called the International Residential Code 2018, which he said costs $195.00 and that there should be a copy at City Hall available to the Public. This was in reference to the code changes made at the work session where Chief Building Official Matthew Alexander had three important changes made to bring the city’s code higher than the International Code, which is also

Citizen Greg Roberts also against the rezoning of Whitfield Road/Hwy. 61, said that, regarding the appointment of the Deputy City Manager was a move to punish a newly elected mayor [Leslie McPherson]. He said council lost some credibility with the January and February decisions it made.

Citizen Randy Eller noted that he was against the rezoning at Whitworth/Hwy.61, but he wanted the city to know that, regarding the place of worship at 505 Berry Drive, he just received his notice letter today, and he feels the

PICof church

OLD PATHWAYSLOGO

PICof church

OLD PATHWAYSLOGO

message/graphic here to change each month

message/graphic here to change each month

On behalf of the membership of Old Pathway Baptist Church. We would like to exhort you to assemble together with us this coming Sunday. Together we will hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, rejoice in the faithful promises of our Lord in our worship, and be found provoking one another unto love and to good works. As instructed in Hebrews 10:23-25KJV

We are:

We are:

“Old Fashioned, On Purpose”

“Old Fashioned, On Purpose”

We invite YOU to join us! Sundays 11:00 am and 5:00 pm

We invite YOU to join us! Sundays 11:00 am and 5:00 pm

Old Pathways Baptist Church

Old Pathway Baptist Church

Old Pathways Baptist Church

508 Old Airport Road, Carrollton, Georgia

508 Old Airport Road, Carrollton, Georgia

Office: 678-664-1616

Office: 678-664-1616

Cell: 678-925-5314

Cell: 678-925-5314

www.oldpathwaybc.org

www.oldpathwaybc.org

Pastor Joe Darby

Pastor Joe Darby

Jeremiah 6:16 “Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” KJB

Jeremiah 6:16 “Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” KJB

FRED RICHARDS from front page

Ezlin Black Richards and Alfred L. Richards, Sr. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his memory to Kiwanis Club of Carrollton, Alice’s House, SOS Fund at the University of West Georgia, or Agape Hospice Care.

A memorial celebration of his life will be held at a future date, likely in September. Messages of condolence may be expressed online at www.almonfuneralhome.com

In addition to his parents, Richards was preceded in death by sister, Joan Armpriester; step-sisters Marion Dean and Bertha Bergen; step-brother, Gene Richards; and sister-in-law, Frances Cohen.

Surivors include his beloved wife of 54 years Anne Richards, and extended family members Alan Cohen and Eva Marie Carney, Elise Cohen, Brett Cohen and Sarah Cuellar, Marshall Cohen and Emily Diamond; a stepsister Carol Brown; numerous nieces and nephews; and countless persons he cherished as friends, colleagues, and clients.

A psychotherapist for 46 years, he was a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and National Board Certified Counselor (NBCC). He authored or coauthored nine books and numerous articles in professional counseling and educational publications as well as in the Times-Georgian, StarNews, and West Georgia Woman. His artwork has been selected for the covers of four books.

His talents and potential were recognized early through a nomination for a Woodrow Wilson fellowship by English Dept., Stetson University, where he earned his BA Degree. He also earned a Master’s degree in English at Stetson, a second Master’s degree (M.Ed.) from University of Florida in Psychological

NAACP believes should be available to everyone in the community. This event will include speakers, panel discussions, booth/table presentations, door prizes, and music.

Presentations planned include Farmers’ Fresh CSA, Georgia Organics, Southeastern African American Farmers’ Organic Network, Keep Carroll Beautiful, Southern Environmental Law Center, Sustainable Georgia Futures, the EPA, SAVE Institute, Georgia Interfaith Power and Light, Tanner Live Healthy/Live Well, Southwire. Event is free, volunteer opportunities available: boydville@bellsouth.net.

The following are issues the NAACP plans to address at this event: youth are worried about what kind of climate future they will face; what jobs will be are sustainable after they graduate; that farmers are having to cope with changing weather patterns bringing damaging storms, unpredictable growing seasons, and pests new to our area and worry about who will run their farms after they retire; families face higher utility bills and food costs and are concerned as to how to keep their families and homes healthy; congregations face new challenges in ministry and facilities usage asking how does faith encourage us to care for creation?

If you’d like to make a donation, support can help bridge the gap between resources available and the people they are meant to serve. Donations help make the event more fun while being informative. NAACP is seeking donations of door prizes/sponsorships: Sprout $100; Seedling $250; Sapling $500; Shade Tree $1,000. Make checks payable to Carroll County Branch 5179 NAACP, share your logo if you desire. Mail: P.O. Box 1108, Carrollton 30112. Cashapp: $CarrollCountyNAACP. Designate for Environmental Justice.

Foundations of Education, Ph.D. in Psychology from the Union Institute and University in 1972, and an Ed.S. from the University of West Georgia in Guidance & Counseling in 1979.

Richards was the recipient of many awards. During his 49 years in Carrollton, he earned awards from the Carrollton Kiwanis Club, the Sertoma Club, Rotary Club, University of West Georgia (UWG), and the Licensed Professional Counselor Association of Georgia. He was the recipient of a Caring award from Senior Citizens of the Carroll County area, as well as awards from the Early Childhood Center, the Carrollton Housing Authority, and Responsible Sexuality Committee, UWG. He was named a Board Member Emeritus of the Community Children’s Home Foundation (Alice’s House), received a Founders Award from UWG (for his work as co-chair with his wife of the Centennial Celebration Committee), and the Dora Byron Citizenship Award from the Carrollton/Carroll County League of Women Voters (also shared with his wife). In 2021, he was honored by the Carroll County Mental Health Advocates at their annual masquerade ball for his 43 years of recurrent contributions to mental health, locally and state-wide.

May 7, 2018, the office of the mayor of the city of Carrollton presented him with a proclamation of appreciation as a “legendary character”; citing his irrepressible presence, oversized personality, quick wit, and characteristic acts of kindness and compassion throughout the county and the West Georgia area. He was considered to have unofficial status as a Good Will ambassador in Carrollton. He was well-known for helping people understand, cooperate, and communicate more effectively with one another. He saw himself as a flawed human being, but one committed to the work of becoming a better one. Christian and Buddhist teachings informed his understanding of what constitutes a good person and what enables persons to come to terms with the suffering that is an inevitable part of human lives. A bumpersticker he created sums up his spirit and the essence of his decision to leave the world a better place than the way he initially encountered it. It read: “Happiness is becoming the adult I

wish I had known as a child.”

Fred said that he “lived many lives”: young Baptist preacher, seminary student, English Professor, Psychology Professor, Merchant Seaman, carpenter, psychotherapist, artist, author, Easter Bunny, Freddie the Rabbit, great friend of Santa Claus, clown, an actor in Community Theatre, and an auctioneer. A member of the Carrollton Kiwanis Club (with perfect attendance for 45 years), he was well-known for his entertaining introductions of guests at club meetings, as well as his engaging and heartwarming service as the emcee of numerous talent shows, nursing home pageants, fun dog shows, and fundraising activities. He was a loyal supporter of UWG, who could be heard singing and howling his signature wolf cheers at university football games. He was also widely known by many for the years he drove a distinctive ‘72 Dodge pickup truck covered with

The art of Fred Richards-Daishi was held March-April 2010, Carrollton Cultural Arts Center in a show he titled “Shadow and Light”. Richards quotedfrom The Dhammapada: “When you are living in darkness, why don’t you look for the light?” He said the painting “Love and Death” (shown above) was based on the 1952 stained glass window “Pieta” by Helen Carew Hickman.

bumper stickers

Speak

today or visit ucbi com C

UCB

CLIMATE JUSTICE EVENT from front

3/06/2024:

Chicken Seafood 816 S Park Street Carrollton 80 previous 88

3/22/2024: Chopsticks Brothers 120 Cunningham Dr Carrollton 80 previous 88

3/15/2024: Watering Hole Sports Bar 123 Tri-County Plaza Villa Rica 80 previous 74

3/07/2024: Brothers Bar Steakhouse 901 S Carroll Rd Villa Rica 77 previous 95

Violations: Observed raw chicken above ready to eat food and raw bacon, raw fish beside ready to eat food, raw hamburger and raw shrimp beside raw chicken.

3/08/2024: Kong Long 82 GA-61 Villa Rica 75 previous 96

Violations: Observed no water at back handwash sink. Observed shelled eggs above ready to eat food, raw steak above ready to eat food. Food thawing in bucket.

3/15/2024: Southern Lady 112 Shirley Street Bowdon 75 previous 78

Violations: Observed raw chicken on raw bacon, raw bacon above ready to eat foods, shelled eggs beside ready to eat foods No sanitizer being used to wipe tables.

3/19/2024: Green Tomato Buffet 1315 S Park Street Carrollton 74 previous 95

Violations: Observed raw meatloaf above cooked sausage, raw beef ribs above ready to eat foods. Temperatures above 41F on countertop, raw chicken wings at 64F, milk 61F

3/25/2024: Jerry’s Country Kitchen 328 Bankhead Hwy Carrollton

70 previous 72

Violations: Observed no certified Food Safety Manager. Observed raw pork stored above raw onions and ready to eat sausage. Chemical spray bottles next to bread. public swimming pool health inspections scores

3/07/2024: Lakeshore Park Pool 116 Lumpkin Drive Carrollton 100

3/27/2024: Fairfield Plantation Country Club 265 Fairfield RD Villa Rica 100

Bowdon Junction Community Club receives 0.67 acre tract of land through Quit Claim Deed from Carroll County School System

story by Janice Daniel

770-214-2443

The Carroll County Board of Education met for ta regular (monthly) meeting on Tuesday, March 21, 2024 where many students and school employees were recognized for achievements. The minutes and Consent Agenda (from the work session) were approved unanimously.

Superintendent Scott owart reported some additional recognitions, one being the number of students who had high scores at the State Technology Competition. He also pointed out that Bowdon High School won four State Championships in Weight-Lifting, both boys and girls, the 5th consecutive year for Bowdon High School. Also, four students were selected to move to the next level in the Young Georgia Authors Programs, more than any number selected from any school in the surrounding areas.

Bowdon High, Temple High, and Villa Rica High were all recognized for excellence in the Advanced Placement Program which emphasizes getting students to meet the 3rd level certification, allowing them to build up college credits at the high school level. Cowart also said that, by the end of the school year, all schools in the District will be STEM-certified, and that the Carroll County District Schools are one of only three school districts in the State of Georgia that is STEM-certified across the district. He recognized the hard work of both teachers and students that is required to achieve this certification.

Under Business Items, Bowdon Junction Community Club requested a Quit Claim Deed from the school district for a 0.67-acre tract of land at 125 Holly Springs Road just off of

Highway 27 North. The parcel is not technically “owned” by the district, but they have revisionary rights on it, and don’t wish to exercise those rights. Both the county and the Bowdon Junction Community Club have asked for this land to be deeded to Bowdon Junction in order to develop it.

Superintendent Terry Jones reported that all the legal work has been completed on both sides. Board approved this item unanimously.

After an executive session, the board considered the personnel actions recommended by the superintendent, retracting three names from the Bowdon list. This item was approved. Then there was a motion to approve the three who had been retracted from the original list, and this vote passed 3-2, with Board Members Bernice Brooks and Bart Cater opposed.

Board Member Sandra Morris urged everyone to visit the greenhouses at all the high schools in the District.

After a poll was taken, all board members voted to perform three hours of the required member training from 2:00 to 5:00 on 5/13/24, prior to the work session.

Meeting was then adjourned.

Carroll County School System

Superintedent is Scott Cowart. Carroll County Board of Education Members are: District 1 Bernice Brooks; District 2 Sandra Morris; District 3 kerry Miller; District 4 Lawana Knight; District 5 Bart Cater; and District 6 Bryant Turner. Meetings are held third Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. at the Carroll County Board of Education, 164 Independence Drive, Carrollton. 770-832-3568 www.carrollcountyschools.com

“The answer is not the government, it's not a politician, it's not a policy; it's always "WE THE PEOPLE." ---Twenty failed empires of the past give ample proof that no generation having tasted freedom and then lost it, has ever tasted it again.”

“What is the only economic system that values freedom, lifts people out of poverty, disdains distinctions of race and creed, and draws you into productive networks of mutual dependency? Hint: it is not a system of ever-increasing government control.”

Walter Williams

Prager 5 minute video

Introducing “The REAL Theatre,” a vibrant addition to the Carrollton community’s cultural landscape. REAL, signifying Raw, Elemental, Artistic, and Live, encapsulates the essence of our company. We are a passionate, forward-thinking theater company dedicated to delivering captivating and genuine theatrical experiences.

The Broadway Bradshaws

Love Letters

Featuring:

Jay Gill & Meredith Warner - March 1st - 7:00 pm

Bill Hearnburg & Bunny Godard - March 2nd - 2:00 pm

Joe Garrett & Terri Ducker - March 2nd - 7:00 pm

Doug Chanselle-Hary & Michelle Morgan - March 3rd - 2:00 pm

April 12th - 7:00 pm - Popular Broadway Hits

April 13th - 2:00 pm - Disney On Broadway

April 13th - 7:00 pm - The Golden Age of Hollywood

April 14th - 2:00 pm - Popular Broadway Hits

“Evita” is a musical that tells the story of Eva Perón, the charismatic and controversial First Lady of Argentina. It follows her rise from poverty to power, her marriage to President Juan Perón, and her transformation into an iconic figure, all set to a captivating score by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.

EVITA

September 3-8, 2024

SEASON 20241

Our repertoire includes a diverse array of productions, from classic dramas to cutting-edge experimental works, designed to engage and inspire our audiences. Beyond performances, we’re committed to nurturing talent through masterclasses and writer’s workshops, as well as enlightening our community through a professional guest artist series. Join us on an exhilarating journey through the world of live performance, where the raw and elemental aspects of artistry come to life on our stage.

Conversations with...

Cicily Daniels at The Depot on Bradley

With a variety of Broadway productions to her name and several national tours, Cicily is a prolific performer in the industry.

March 23, 2024

Conversations with...

Vincent Michael at The Depot on Bradley A graduate of Catholic University and an active member of AEA, Vincent is a veteran actor in the industry.

November 9, 2024

Masterclass with...

Doug Chanselle-Hary

Doug began performing professionally over thirty years ago in stage, television, and film and has hundreds of performing, directing, and producing credits throughout his career.

October 4-6, 2024

Masterclass with...

Patrick J. Yuran

Patrick began his professional career in the performing arts over twenty-five years ago and currently has more than fifty production credits to his name.

December 6-8, 2024

COMMENTARY

Under the Gold Dome Week 10

The conclusion of our tenth week under the Gold Dome brought us to just five legislative days before adjournment of this year’s session. The pace will only intensify as our days will become longer in working to address issues up for debate. In short, there is much to do prior to our Day 40 deadline.

Please be on the lookout for future updates concerning your government at work. As always, if you need anything at all, please feel free to contact me anytime. Thank you for allowing me the honor and privilege of serving our home under the Gold Dome. May God bless you, and may He continue to bless the great state of Georgia.

J COLLINS

(R) STATE REPRESENTATIVE

District 71 770-295-8143

j.collins@house.ga.gov

there is no reasonable ground for a request to be made. These scenarios often lead to forced entry with the intent to harm the individual being targeted.

The fallout of a defiant employee

SUE HORN EVANS

Defiance: open resistance, bold disobedience, a deliberate challenge, an attitude or action designed to provoke hostility.

Insubordination: a deliberate act of defiance, disobedience, refusal to follow a manager or employer’s instructions.

Fallout of accepting repeat defiance/ insubordination in a workplace: strained working relationships, decreased team cohesion, negative impact on the overall company culture.

In my opinion, in the near post-Tom Barber future of the City of Villa Rica, council should vote (mayor is a non-voting seat) to approve funds for an outside forensic audit of all contracts/agreements and pending contracts/ agreements that have been handled by Barber and Gil McDougal. All.

And I strongly stress that I suggest this NOT because there has been any indication of anything illegal. I know of nothing illegal. I am NOT inferring that there is something illegal.

I strongly believe having an outside expert to review, and, hopefully, prayerfully, give the city a thumbs-up on all money tracks, commitments of labor, schedules of payments, expiration dates of contracts and with whom, true ownership identities of companies (not just a company’s commercial name) that the city has workings with, etc. will offer the citizens / taxpayers of the City of Villa peace of mind going forward, relief of a true clean slate. This will go a long way towards repairing/restoring the credibility of this council’s ability to make better group decisions in the future.

This is the same council body who voted both to hire McDougal against the city’s charter and then fire McDougal because it was against the city’s charter, but only did so after the curent mayor was forced into a position of having to hire an expensive attorney - and by vote of same council and the former mayor McDougal - to defend same charter.

The sneakiness, underhandedness, and dishonesty of both City Manager Tom Barber and past mayor Gil McDougal since the valid election of Leslie McPherson for mayor in mid-December, has caused - is still causing as Barber is still employed - angst, anger, loss of faith by the citizens and community as a whole (don’t forget about the business communities here and in other areas who may or may not be considering doing business with the City of Villa Rica) in the ability of the city to operate to the benefit of the city and its citizens.

And it was this sneakiness, underhandedness, dishonesty of both City Manager Tom Barber and past mayor Gil McDougal that has caused this council body to be wary of each other, emotional with each other, and indecisive as a whole. This is detrimental to the city.

As quickly as air bursting from a popped balloon, Barber and McDougal destroyed any expectation of the public’s respect to the leadership positions in this city that was, prior to this months’ long embarrassing wrestling match for power, an unspoken given.

Barber and McDougal’s behavior, in my opinion, also opened the door to unprofessional behavior on the part of some council members. Ranting aloud and throwing a gibe to someone sitting quietly in the audience about a personal matter (a divorce) and then laughing about same comment, is offensive and disrespectful of everyone’s time (ironically, same council member who had previously called out the new mayor in January to be “aware of council’s time”). I suggest some council members consider taking classes on what constitutes proper behavior by elected officials. The Carl Vinson Institute offers online classes that have flexible schedules. I do not believe citizens would protest this use of taxpayer funds, considering the benefit they would receive in future work sessions and meetings.

McDougal was fired April 3rd. That’s half the problem solved.

Now, it’s Barber’s turn to go. To the casual observer, his behavior begs to be fired. Is there a bigger severance package for being fired as opposed to giving notice and quitting? I do not know.

Week ten under the gold dome made way for many measures that will benefit our state and her citizens.

Public Safety: In recent years the practice of “swatting” has become more common. Swatting refers to an unlawful or “made up” request for emergency service assistance when

To curtail this trend we successfully passed Senate Bill 421 which outlines punishable offenses for swatting. The bill also delves further into offenses related to gang activity, such as shooting a firearm towards another vehicle or building with the intent to injure someone or cause damage to someone’s property. Stipulations of the bill are as follows:

Violations which occur at homes or places of worship would be classified as a felony.

10 years imprisonment, a minimum $5,000 fine or both.

Repeat offenders subject to a sentence of 10 to 15 years imprisonment, a minimum $25,000 fine or both.

Offenders would be liable for damages, including property damage and expenses to treat bodily injuries.

Sadly, many of our elected officials have been victims of this dangerous practice and we are hopeful that harsher punishments will put an end to this trend.

We continued our efforts to protect Georgia’s children with the passage of Senate Bill 335, the Safeguarding Adopted Children from Sexual Violence Act. This bill expands the crime of incest to include adoption relationships. Georgia code currently defines incest to those who are blood related or by marriage and the expan-

See STATE REP COLLINS page 25

As District 5 Commissioner, I will give 100% effort and accept no pay

My name is Keith Knowles and I am running for District 5 Carroll County Commissioner. I have lived my entire life in Carroll County. I retired from the Marine Corps Reserves in 2021 with 21 years of service. I was a volunteer firefighter with Carroll County for 19 years and I am still a volunteer for Fairfield Plantation Fire Rescue.

As a volunteer at Fairfield Plantation Fire Rescue, I spend a minimum of 24 hours a month performing station duty, meaning that I sleep at the fire station and respond to incoming calls throughout the night.

I am the owner and operator of an HVAC company for the past 14 years. I understand when leadership fails, when budgets are not met or overspent, and when the government closes the door to its citizens and leaves them in the dark.

As a leader in my business and a Captain at Fairfield Plantation Fire

KEITH KNOWLES

CANDIDATE DISTRICT 5

Commissioner REPUBLICAN 470-879-3717

Keithknowlesdistrict5@gmail.com

Rescue, I believe in a bottom-up approach to leadership. The boots on the ground are the best assets and ideas a leader can have.

Therefore, I will put the citizens and the employees of Carroll County first. I will be open to the ideas and issues they have. I believe that equal means equal, I know firsthand that employees of Carroll County are not treated equally. If Carroll County does not have happy employees, then how can Carroll County provide the best product to its citizens. As a leader I will ask difficult

questions, I will face the truthregardless of how difficult or unpopular it is. I will be an open book and always tell the truth. In my book, “integrity” is from cover to cover.

I am not motivated by money. I am motivated by the accountability of money. I believe that a budget can be the road map to financial freedom. No matter how much or how little money you receive, accountability of a budget is how realistic goals are met.

I do not want to receive the commissioner’s salary to prove how motivated I am about spending money for the citizens and not for myself. If I cannot opt out of a District Commissioner Salary, then I will donate my salary to a charity that resides within Carroll County. I will seek charities within District 5 first.

I will ask the question: when property values go up, why do we vote for the millage rate to stay the same? I

See KEITH KNOWLES page 25

I am the choice, voice, and work horse for District 5

There is a quote that reads, “With hard work and dedication, anything is possible.” Throughout my life, I have dedicated myself to hard work and as a fifth generation farmer in Carroll County, I know the value of this dedication.

Out of my deep farming roots I have started and grown my own cattle operation. I began in 2013 with ten head of cattle and have grown to nearly one hundred. This could never have happened had I not persevered through ever-changing market shifts and times, and remained dedicated to do what I had to do to make my operation successful.

Along with operating my own cattle herd, I have aided many citizens throughout Carroll County in starting and or maintaining their own cattle herds. This work ranges from helping work cows, bailing hay, building a new catch pen, or just simply giving advice on how to do something a certain way. This work has allowed me

BEN HICKS

CANDIDATE DISTRICT 5

Commissioner REPUBLICAN 770-722-5861

Bbcattleco17@gmail.com

to give back to our community the knowledge that I have attained so that others may use it for their own benefit.

In being involved with helping other farmers and ranchers around Carroll County, I have also been able to have an influence on our youth. Through events with Carroll County Cattlemen’s Association and helping judge the Top Hand contests held for FFA students, I have been privileged to help young students learn the correct ways to handle cattle and help them also to develop a love and passion for agriculture.

Aside from agriculture, I have given back to my community in a very special way. For five years, the “Christmas for the Cause” charity event has helped hundreds of families in Carroll County be able to have Christmas the way all families should. It has been my honor and privilegeto help raise funds and materials and be a part of this charity that gives back so much to those in need during a special part of the year.

Through my work and teachings in agriculture as well as my work with charity, I have seen first hand and have come to understand and appreciate the diversity we have in Carroll County. It is really a true blessing to be part of such a community that I believe I can help even more as District 5 County Commissioner. I know I will put all of my heart into being commissioner just as I have with agriculture and charity.

Please allow me to be your voice and workhorse for District 5.

Georgia 3rd Congressional District: I am asking for your vote in the May 21 Primary Election

VAL

ALMONDARD

CANDIDATE

U.S. Representative

District3

DEMOCRAT

My name is Dr. Val Almonord, and I am running for the U.S. Representative for Georgia 3rd Congressional District, open seat.

I am asking for your vote in the May 21 Primary Election.

Let me tell you a little bit about myself. I am a father, grandfather, physician, healthcare

manager, veteran, and union leader. I retired after 35 years of serving the country in and out of uniform.

As a physician, healthcare student, and cancer survivor, I am committed to improving our healthcare system.

I will fight to enhance the Affordable Care Act by lowering deductibles and prescription drug costs, expanding Medicaid, and preserving Medicare and Social Security.

I will fight to give back our wives, daughters, and granddaughters the right to decide for themselves when to start a family by restoring (Roe vs. Wade) Women’s Reproductive Rights.

As a believer in equality and human rights, I

pledge support for the LGBT community, advocating for their rights to love and live authentically without fear of discrimination.

Additionally, I will support legislation to address price gouging by big corporations and lower federal taxes on gasoline. It is time to stop giving tax breaks to the wealthy and prioritize the needs of low-income and middleclass families.

Furthermore, I am committed to addressing climate change and bringing green-good union jobs to our district. I will support climate change legislation and work towards making West Georgia a leader in manufacturing green, good-paying technological jobs.

The U.S. House of Representatives is in

chaos, and is time for change. I will restore order and be a voice for the people, not big corporations, and lobbyists.

However, obstacles exist, such as (SB202) Georgia’s voter suppression laws. We must work together to overcome these obstacles by encouraging citizens to vote for Democrats.

But, I can’t do this alone, and I need your support.

Join the movement, volunteer, and donate at almonordforcongress.com. or secure.actblue.com/donate/val/-almonord-1.

Early voting starts on April 29. Vote for Democrats in May 21 Primary Election!

Vote for Dr. Val Almonord!

val@almonordforcongress.com

Can we stop this ever-increasing movement towards government control?

TRAVIS PITTMAN

GEORGIATECH

Beta Theta Pi

tpittman4787@comcast.net

“The answer is not the government, it’s not a politician, it’s not a policy; it’s always ‘WE THE PEOPLE.’ - Twenty failed empires of the past give ample proof that no generation having tasted freedom and then lost it, has ever tasted it again.”

“What is the only economic system that values freedom, lifts people out of poverty, disdains distinctions of race and creed, and draws you into productive networks of mutual dependency? Hint: it is not a system of everincreasing government control.”

-Prager 5 minute video- Walter Williams

Before recorded history, man was theorized to have been a foraging hunter-gatherer who eventually discovered that planting a seed

would produce a crop. Noticing that his neighbor could do the same and acting in his selfinterest, he forcibly stole and subjugated lesser men to his wishes (survival of the fittest). Then, maximizing his effort to achieve the outcome, a gang (tribe) of thugs was formed. It is not hard to see the progression that led to long-forgotten empires.

Stepping into the first recorded era some 5000 years ago, we find that little had changed where every previous societal system had incorporated systematic oppression, serfdom, and bondage and had subjugated its people by the ruling class or family.

Two societies that differed from the above were the Israelites and the Anglo-Saxons. Israelites were God-centered and broken into 12 tribes with some differences of duty that worked reasonably well for the nation. AngloSaxon England was thought to be well-run through a King’s ultimate authority but had extensive local government ruled by family lineage.

By 1600 A.D., countries had dabbled in Mercantilism, where European governments chartered upper-class merchants to travel and trade goods to bring wealth to themselves and

the homeland. They were attempting to spread colonies throughout the known world. Economic self-interest was only achievable by the ruling class.

Consider the case of Jamestown, Virginia, founded in 1607, and they struggled for ten years. Initially, a communal ownership system was installed with a forced division of labor, with one-third of settlers looking for gold and silver, a third growing the crops, and a third building a fort. Man’s self-interest took over, and most settlers spent their time looking for gold. Many problems arose, like typhoid fever. dysentery, salt poisoning, and the biggest of all was starvation. 10,000 people traveled to the community over the ten year period, but only 1,000 survived.

the birth of Capitalism - or surely was an insight into man’s self-interest, at least in an agrarian society.

“What is the only economic system that values freedom, lifts people out of poverty, disdains distinctions of race and creed, and draws you into productive networks of mutual dependency? Hint: it is not a system of ever-increasing government control.”

The colony changed leadership, and settlers were given a few acres to grow their own food with the small tax of two barrels of corn for the community storehouse. This may have been

Fast forward through the Industrial Revolution and Tech Boom, we have America standing on the precipice of profound decisions. Things are less visible than no food on the table. Our early leaders believed we could govern ourselves and that we would make decisions based on our self-interest, and only need a government framework to “establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.” Many trials and problems during the last two and a half centuries have been resolved through this constitutional Republic foundation.

We have evolved into a Federal system that employs 2.1 million and numerous NGOs

The “Georgia Criminal Alien Track and Report Act of 2024” explained

House Bill 1105, The Georgia Criminal Alien Track and Report Act of 2024, sponsored by Rep. Jesse Petrea (R- Savannah), passed under the Gold Dome last month and went to Governor Brian Kemp’s desk.

While you read the abbreviated analysis of Rep. Petrea’s leigislation below, please try to find the “anti-immigrant” and “anti-Latino” “hate” the corporate-funded illegal alien lobby is howling about. An the bottom, we supply a list of some of the organizations - with contact information - that feverishly lobbied in the state Capitol against this commonsense public safety bill. This is a general explanation of the bill’s contents:

HB 1105 ensures that Georgia law enforcement officers cooperate with federal immigration authorities when illegal aliens are in custody. Puts penalties into existing laws against “sanctuary” policies. Requires that jails honor ICE detainers.

“The provisions of this Act shall be implemented in a manner consistent with federal laws governing immigration and civil rights.”

oPenalizes sheriffs (hello, Gwinnett Sheriff Keybo Taylor) who defy follow current state law on reporting to ICE when illegal aliens are in their jails. (Section 9)

oPenalizes local government leaders who support sanctuary policies in violation of that prohibition. (Section 6)

oRequires that jailers honor ICE detainers. (Section 8)

oRequires jails to apply annually for Memorandums of Agreement with federal immigration authorities such as 287(g). (Section 5)

oWithholds state funds or state administered federal funds from local governing bodies that violate this code and support sanctuary policies. (Section 5)

oRequires jailers to post quarterly reports on their local website to include total number of inmates, LESC inquiries, ICE detainers, and number of responses from ICE beginning 12/31/24. (Section 10)

oRequires the Department of Audits to review immigration compliance reports submitted by local governments and Sheriffs’ Departments. (Section 12)

oRequires the Department of Corrections to post on its website, a quarterly report of aggregate data on the numbers of ICE detainers in our state prison system. (Section 7)

oRequires that DNA shall be collected from convicted felons in the Georgia

Department of Corrections that are subject to an immigration detainer notice. (Section 13)

oRequires that law enforcement officers seek to verify immigration status for individuals arrested for certain misdemeanors and who cannot show ID indicating legal presence in the United States. (Section 3)

oImplores the State Board of Pardons and Paroles to not release any illegal alien from confinement prior to the completion of their sentence unless they are assured that federal immigration authorities will deport such alien upon release. (Section 2)

The below is part of a March 6, 2024 press release from the anti-enforcement, non-profit groups listed. You can see the entire release at our pro-enforcement website, NewDustinInmanSociety.org.

From the far-left:

Diverse Group of Immigrant Rights Organizations Condemn HB 1105 As Dangerous and Discriminatory STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“Atlanta, GA - Immigrant rights organizations and their allies condemn Georgia House Bill 1105, which recently passed the House and endangers Georgia’s immigrant communities, promotes racial profiling, and undermines local law enforcement discretion…”

CONTACT:

James Woo, Advancing Justice-Atlanta,

jwoo@advancingjustice-atlanta.org

Daniela Rodriguez, Migrant Equity Southeast, Daniela@migrantequity.org 912222-8229

Shelley Danzy, Project South, shelley@projectsouth.org 678-508-5293

Preye Cobham, Esq., Women Watch Afrika, womenwatchafrika@gmail.com 404-668-2241

Daniela Racines, Latino Community Fund, daniela@lcfgeorgia.org 470-519-0783

Ashley Coleman, Coalition of Refugee Service Agencies, ashley.coleman@weinspirit.org 678-451-8863

Lauren Frazier, Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, lfrazier@gbpi.org 404-434-5541

Sebastian Saavedra, Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights (GLAHR), sebastian@glahr.org 770-457-5232

Nekessa Opoti, Black Alliance for Just Immigration, comms@baji.org 612-405-3359

Aimee Zangandoum, Inspiritus, aimee.zangandou@weinspirit.org 678-8528523

Nazia Khanzada, Council on AmericanIslamic Relations Georgia, nkhanzada@cair.com 404-239-2086

Darlene Lynch, The Center for Victims of Torture and Business & Immigration for Georgia (BIG) Partnerships,, Dlynch@cvt.org 404-402-1764

Alba Villarreal, GALEO Impact Fund, avillarreal@galeoimpactfund.org 678-791-2305

Hardegree Law Firm, P.C. prides itself on developing real

I put

legal issues into language that you can easily understand. I work hard to help our clients in every situation. I treat clients with respect and spend time to make sure that they fully understand the process they are going through.

When you need counsel on a major, life-impacting decision, you deserve an attorney who will listen to you, thoroughly examine the facts, and provide the best possible solution for you and your future. We come to

‘Berrying the Blues’ - a history of the goodness of blueberries

BILL BOURIS

digi@mindspring.com

The other night we had our neighbor and very dear friend Sybil over for dinner. Sybil has her own column in this newspaper, “River Rambles”. She reminded me that since Winter was over, what I call “emeraldization” was coming soon, and that it wouldn’t be a bad idea to remind the reader of it.

The cruelest month

SYBIL ROSEN THOMAS

River Rambles

syllabil17@aol.com

Poet T.S. Eliot famously wrote: “April is the cruelest month, breeding/Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing/Memory and desire, stirring/Dull roots with spring rain.” Of course in Georgia, by April the lilacs have already come and gone, along with the dogwoods and the redbuds. But personally, the month has been known to foster a curious discontent, a dissonant mix of memory and desire. Is it because by May it will be summer and we know the heat is coming?

Emeraldization happens after a warm Spring rain, as the sun’s light hits the new green leafy surfaces. More than moisture, but less than wetness, there are tiny mists of water, that must be floating around these green surfaces. It’s a kind of haze that blurs your eyesight. At that moment, no matter how sharp your vision, the only perception you have is of the soft emerald presence, in the air. A glow. Emeraldization. So, the next day, after our dinner with Sybil, I was sitting in a very comfortable chair gazing out across a field of volunteer daffodils. Just beyond them is our blueberry patch. Suddenly, I realized that it was such a gaze, like the one I was into, now at this moment, that I first realized the emeraldization, decades ago. It was among our young blueberries!

This April, memory reminds me that this is the 49th River Ramble, meaning the column has been up and running for four years. My initial intention, my desire as it were, was to offer an experience of the Chattahoochee River, distilling her life through words. I intended to look at her every which way, exploring her from as many perspectives as I could come up with, 48 at present count. I’ve learned a great deal about how to think about her, but have I fulfilled my desire?

Yes, I’ve written about her, but have I sufficiently mined an authentic voice, one that is river-centric, not human-centric? Even assigning the river the feminine pronoun ‘she’ is a human-centered act. Anything I offer has been sifted through my human heart and mind. But what else can I do? Words and imagination are my only tools.

The Random House Dictionary of the

We had bought the place from the widow Addie Pate, in 1972. Slowly, for the next 30 years, we modified, but kept the Pates in mind. For example, we kept their garden and orchard, but expanded beyond them - that is, until we got the sheep. But, I digress. This is about the blueberries and discovering emeraldization. Back then, while Margery and I commuted from Carroll County to Emory, one of our coworkers, Dale Rice, commuted from Gwinnett County, where he had just bought 20 acres. Dale convinced us to go in on a blueberry purchase with him. (Thank you, Dale!) So, one day, he and I drove down to Tifton, at ABAC, to pick up several hundred blueberry shoots. We were greeted by Prof. Brightwell, who had our plants ready. Turns out that Prof.

English Language defines river as “An actual stream of water of fairly large size flowing in a definite course or channel or series of diverging and converging channels.” Rather dry, even for a river. Certainly an accurate description of the river’s parts, of how she’s put together - her aggregates, one might say.

Yet it doesn’t capture any numinous element of the river, her river-ness. Where’s the bliss, the awe, the mystery? And it conveys no sense of her sensory impact or her undeniable kinship with the human world, from our perspective at least if not from hers.

So, how do we do that? How do you capture river-ness? Can human language express it?

Words don’t actually help much. Living on the Chattahoochee for over 20 years, it’s become natural to see her as a person, a living being with identifiable human characteristics. She’s a neighbor, a confidant, a companion.

Brightwell was at the center of an effort to make blueberries into a Georgia crop. In fact, he had developed several varieties that would be more suitable for that purpose, Tifblue, Briteblue, Brightwell, Delite, etc. He was proud to have some of these varieties named after him, and had included them in the mix that he had prepared for us.

Of the 200 plants that we brought to Whitesburg, some 50 were shared with our neighbors and friends. The remainder were planted in five long rows on the side of a hill that got good sun. This was the hill that I was now viewing and remembering the first time I had realized “emeraldization”. The shoots had taken root, thrived, and in two or three years,

See BILL BOURIS page 31

But that itself is limiting; even the imagination has its confines. Imagination is advertised as boundless yet it’s rendered useless when we try to contain the essence of an entity that has no knowledge of, or use for, words. Dance probably comes closest in evoking water.

And still I keep at it, as writers have for millenia, I guess because we have to believe that words have an impact or else why bother? And it’s not just writers really, it’s all of us. The way we speak to and about each other affects us on every level, including through our senses. Mycologist Merlin Sheldrake said: “Words have this remarkable efficacy, a kind of dangerous but splendid magic: They transform the world by altering our perceptions of it.”

For better or for worse, I might add. And yet I’m full of doubt. I wonder, am I doing the river any favors by thinking of her as a person?

See RIVER RAMBLES page 31

Effect of Alabama’s IVF ruling on Georgia and national Pro-Life laws

DUANE HACK

West Georgia Right to Life PRESIDENT

“The Heartbeat of Georgia”

Duanehack46@gmail.com 470-370-2452

What effect could Alabama’s IVF ruling have on Georgia and National Pro-Life Laws?

The Alabama Supreme Court issued a ruling on February 16, 2024, declaring that embryos created through in vitro fertilization (IVF) should be considered children. Several of the state’s IVF clinics have since paused services, and

lawmakers, doctors, and patients are raising concerns about the far-ranging impacts of the ruling on health care, including reproductive technology.

What is the basis for this Alabama court case about? The plaintiffs are three couples who all underwent IVF treatment at a fertility clinic in Alabama. Through the IVF treatment they received, each couple became pregnant and gave birth to healthy babies. As a result of the IVF treatments, they also produced a number of additional embryos-this is standard procedure in an IVF cycle. Those additional embryos that were not used were frozen and preserved by the fertility clinic. The presumption was that the couples could come back at some later time and have another IVF cycle using these

embryos without having to again go through the hormonal treatments and surgeries.

What happened next is what gave rise to this case. The plaintiff couples’ frozen embryos had been cryo-preserved at the fertility clinic, which is located within a hospital. In December 2020, a patient of that hospital wandered into the fertility clinic’s cryo-preservation unit and opened one of the tanks in which frozen embryos are stored. These embryos are stored at sub-freezing temperatures, so when the patient put his hand into the tank and grabbed some of the embryos, he burned himself and dropped the embryos, which hit the ground and were destroyed.

The plaintiff couples brought lawsuits against the fertility clinic and the hospital. One

of the lawsuits is for negligence and wantonness, but that wasn’t part of this case. The other lawsuit - the one that’s the subject of this casewas against the hospital and the clinic for the Wrongful Death of a Minor Act, which is an Alabama statute.

At the trial court, this case was dismissed; the trial judge stated that embryos that exist in vitro are not people or children for the purposes of the Wrongful Death of a Minor Act, and therefore there was no claim that the couples could bring under that act.

The couples appealed that decision to the Supreme Court of Alabama, the highest court in the state. The Supreme Court disagreed and, in a nutshell, stated “the Wrongful Death of a

See DUANE HACK page 26

Harmony in education: why music is vital in K-12 Independent School Programs

In the symphony of education, music stands as a vital instrument, enriching the lives of students and enhancing the independent educational experience in profound ways. Beyond the notes and melodies, music education plays a crucial role in fostering holistic development, promoting creativity, and nurturing a love for learning.

Music education has been linked to enhanced cognitive development in our students. Research conducted by neuroscientists at Northwestern University suggests that learning to play a musical instrument improves brain

function, particularly in areas related to language processing, spatial reasoning, and executive functions. Such findings underscore the importance of music in nurturing intellectual abilities from a young age, providing students with a cognitive edge that transcends musical proficiency.

Creativity is the cornerstone of progress and innovation in the 21st century. Music education nurtures creativity by encouraging students to explore their imaginations, express themselves artistically, and think outside the box. Through composition, improvisation, and interpretation, students develop the creative confidence to tackle challenges across various domains, laying the foundation for future success in diverse fields, from STEM to the arts.

In the tumultuous journey of childhood and adolescence, music serves as a steadfast companion, offering solace, inspiration, and a means of emotional expression. Whether through joyful melodies or poignant lyrics, music has the power to uplift spirits, soothe

troubled minds, and foster empathy and understanding. By providing students with a medium to articulate their feelings and connect with others on a deeper level, music education nurtures emotional intelligence and resilience, equipping them with invaluable life skills.

Music is a universal language that transcends boundaries of culture, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Through exposure to diverse musical traditions and genres within our independent schools, students gain a deeper appreciation for the richness and diversity of human experience. Moreover, collaborative musicmaking fosters teamwork, cooperation, and mutual respect, bridging divides and building inclusive communities within our school environments.

In an increasingly interconnected world, such cultural and social awareness is indispensable for fostering global citizenship and fostering a more harmonious society.

Perhaps most importantly, music education instills a lifelong love for learning and explora-

tion. Whether students pursue music professionally or simply as a hobby, the skills and values cultivated through music education endure far beyond the classroom. By nurturing curiosity, discipline, and a passion for excellence, music empowers students to become lifelong learners, equipped with the tools they need to navigate an ever-changing world with confidence and resilience.

In the tapestry of independent education, music is a cornerstone of holistic development and human flourishing. From enhancing cognitive abilities and nurturing creativity to fostering emotional well-being and cultural awareness, music education enriches the lives of students in profound and enduring ways.

As educators and independent school leaders chart the course for the future of education, let us reaffirm our commitment to music as an essential and vital program in our school curricula, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to experience the transformative power of music firsthand.

COMMENTARY

Something is right with children

TRACEY E. PITTS MINISTER

In 2023, the horror film “Something Is Wrong with the Children” was released. Plot: Margaret and Ben take a weekend trip with two longtime friends and their two young children. Ben soon suspects something sinister is afoot when the kids start behaving strangely after disappearing into the woods overnight.

Did you know that 5,000 young people complete their mission of suicide in the U.S. each year? This equates to approximately ten youth suicides for every 100,000 youth. Each day, there are approximately 12 youth suicides. Every 2 hours and 11 minutes, a person younger thatn the age of 25 completes suicide. One could say, “There is something wrong with the children.”

In 2022, there were over 1,000 murder offenders between the ages of 13 and 16 in the United States. Will we sit back and just keep declaring that something is wrong with the children? Or will we roll up our sleeves, pray over them, and remind them of who Christ says they are?

In 2021, the serious violent crime-offending rate was five crimes per 1,000 juveniles ages 12-17, with a total of 122,900 such crimes involving juveniles. This rate was not significantly different from the rate in 2020 or 2019.

Will we continue to stand idly, turn our faces, and pretend as if nothing is happening at all?

In the United States, the highest fertility rates (per 1,000 women ages 15-44) during 20192021 (average) were to Hispanic women (63.5), followed by blacks (60.2), American Indian/Alaska Natives (55.8), Whites (54.4) and Asian/Pacific Islanders (52.9). Will we turn

up our snobbish little noses at other parents since they have wayward kids - because in our minds, our kids are “perfect”?

The study also estimates that more than 400,000 teens join gangs every year.

We need to speak into their lives a life they can have outside of these gangs. Living a life in a gang should not be the end result for these children. We must help them find their true end result! (Romans 4:17)

Start telling your sons and daughters what they are and will become! Speak over their lives; get them involved in programs and with people in the fields they desire to endeavor.

Stop telling them what you see in front of you. Get into your prayer rooms and pray over your kids. Lay hands on them. Have them read these affirmations daily until they have them in their hearts:

I am a child of God.

2 Corinthians 6:18 (NIV)

And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”

I am chosen.

1 Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

I am loved.

1 John 3:1

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God.”

I am forgiven.

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9-11(NIV)

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s

power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

I am never alone.

Matthew 28:20

“And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

I am free from condemnation.

Romans 8:1

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

I am courageous.

Joshua 1:9-10

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

I am accepted.

Ephesians 1:6

To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

I am valuable.

Isaiah 43:4

Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life.

There is something right with the children! We must declare and decree that our children will grow up to be all God has created them to be.

They will do great exploits for Jesus. They will be a light in this dark world. They will make a mark for Jesus that the world can never erase.

A Message from your Tax Commissioner

I would like to acknowledge the employees of my office known as the “Tax and Tag Office Ladies”. The Steel Magnolias of Carroll County is a perfect metaphor for these women. They have a hard job but are women of strength and beauty well beyond physical beauty. They make customers happy and abide by state mandates for titles and taxes. We all strive to give the best customer service to the Citizens of Carroll County. Vickie Bearden

www.starnewsgaonline.com

Our funeral home offers a warm, comfortable, familyoriented environment with traditional architecture and tasteful interior decor. Our facilities accommodate all types of funerals and memorials large and small, public or private.

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Phone: (770) 832-7056

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for complete obituary listings daily go to: www.starnewsgaonline.com

Jerry Scott Shedd, age 53, died Monday, July 8, 2019

Dr. Fred Richards, age 85, born Jan 12, 1939, died March 27, 2024

Shirley F. Alexander, age 71, born November 27, 1947, died Sunday, July 14, 2019

Shirley F. Alexander, age 71, born November 27, 1947, died Sunday, July 14, 2019

Tiffanee Dawne “Tiff” Cook, age 45, born October 12, 1973, died Friday, July 12, 2019

Johnny D. Huey, age 54, born Feb 17, 1970, died Mar 6, 2024

Master Danny Joe Jones, Jr., age 2 months, born May 16, 2019, died Thursday, July 4, 2019

Shirley F. Alexander, age 71, born November 27, 1947, died Sunday, July 14, 2019

Jerry Scott Shedd, age 53, died Monday, July 8, 2019

Tiffanee Dawne “Tiff” Cook, age 45, born October 12, 1973, died Friday, July 12, 2019

David Ronald Simpson, age 70, born July 21, 1948, died July 09, 2019

Tiffanee Dawne “Tiff” Cook, age 45, born October 12, 1973, died Friday, July 12, 2019

Jerry Scott Shedd, age 53, died Monday, July 8, 2019

Dwight Bishop, Jr., age 62, born September 28, 1956, died Tuesday, July 9, 2019

Dwight Bishop, Jr., age 62, born September 28, 1956, died Tuesday, July 9, 2019

Ray Ledue Anderson, age 67, born Aug 22, 1956, died Mar 9, 2024

James B. Dean, age 92, born September 02, 1926, died Wednesday, July 3, 2019

Master Danny Joe Jones, Jr., age 2 months, born May 16, 2019, died Thursday, July 4, 2019

Rebecca N. Johnson, age 75, born Jul 11, 1948, died Mar 11, 2024

“Marjorie” Nell Lovvorn, age 86, born August 3, 1932, died Wednesday, July 10, 2019

Mary Kathryn Myers, age 86, born Apr 27, 1937, died Mar 15, 2024

Dwight Bishop, Jr., age 62, born September 28, 1956, died Tuesday, July 9, 2019

David Ronald Simpson, age 70, born July 21, 1948, died July 09, 2019

Krishan Patel, age 36, born Jul 23, 1987, died Mar 9, 2024

Zellie Fred Sprewell, age 94, born February 28, 1925, died Saturday, July 27, 2019

Donald Brasseal “Don” Bonner, age 76, born June 05, 1943, died Wednesday, July 10, 2019

Cynthia DiAnn Bennett, age 72, born Jun 21, 1951, died Apr 1, 2024

Barry Bushon Dickerson, age 68, born September 7, 1950, died Friday, July 19, 2019

James B. Dean, age 92, born September 02, 1926, died Wednesday, July 3, 2019

“Marjorie” Nell Lovvorn, age 86, born August 3, 1932, died Wednesday, July 10, 2019

James B. Dean, age 92, born September 02, 1926, died Wednesday, July 3, 2019

David Ronald Simpson, age 70, born July 21, 1948, died July 09, 2019

Donald Brasseal “Don” Bonner, age 76, born June 05, 1943, died Wednesday, July 10, 2019

Rev. Paul Kiker, age 54, born Feb 13, 1970, died Mar 30, 2024

James Guy Biddy, age 72, born Feb 4, 1952, died Apr 4, 2024

Andra Dixon McGill, age 76, born October 18, 1941, died Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Donald Brasseal “Don” Bonner, age 76, born June 05, 1943, died Wednesday, July 10, 2019

Zellie Fred Sprewell, age 94, born February 28, 1925, died Saturday, July 27, 2019

Daniel Lance Walker, age 40, born September 18, 1978, died Sunday, July 21, 2019

Barry Bushon Dickerson, age 68, born September 7, 1950, died Friday, July 19, 2019

Steve Marshall, age 56, born Aug 19, 1967, died Mar 29, 2024

Dalton “John” Bourque, age 88, born Jul 23, 1935, died Mar 14, 2024

John D. Brown, Jr., age 53, born August 18, 1965, died July 22, 2019

John D. Brown, Jr., age 53, born August 18, 1965, died July 22, 2019

Bobbie Jean Dodderer, age 84, born July 9, 1935, died Monday, July 22, 2019

Andra Dixon McGill, age 76, born October 18, 1941, died Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Billy Joe McCoy, age 79, born Jan 24, 1945, died Apr 1, 2024

Zellie Fred Sprewell, age 94, born February 28, 1925, died Saturday, July 27, 2019

Barry Bushon Dickerson, age 68, born September 7, 1950, died Friday, July 19, 2019

David Eugene Smith, age 53, born Oct 3, 1970, died Apr 3, 2024

Eugene Parker Mullis, Jr., age 70, born December 31, 1948, died Monday, July 8, 2019

Bobbie Jean Dodderer, age 84, born July 9, 1935, died Monday, July 22, 2019

John D. Brown, Jr., age 53, born August 18, 1965, died July 22, 2019

Daniel Lance Walker, age 40, born September 18, 1978, died Sunday, July 21, 2019

Elmer James Shari, age 82, born Oct 4, 1941, died Mar 21, 2024

Daniel Lance Walker, age 40, born September 18, 1978, died Sunday, July 21, 2019

Bobbie Jean Dodderer, age 84, born July 9, 1935, died Monday, July 22, 2019

Deborah “Debbie” Ann West, age 58, died July 22, 2019

Marie Elizabeth Phillips Bryce, age 89, born September 14, 1929, died Saturday, July 20, 2019

Walter Lee Crook “Cowboy”, age 79, born Jan 14, 1945, died Mar 24, 2024

Wallace Allen Worthan, age 56, died Monday, July 15, 2019

Marie Elizabeth Phillips Bryce, age 89, born September 14, 1929, died Saturday, July 20, 2019

Roselyn H. Davenport, age 88, born Jul 2, 1935, died Mar 26, 2024

Earl Wayne Carden, age 80, born October 29, 1938, died Friday, June 28, 2019

Anna Marsella Fazio, age 85, born on Jan 1, 1934, died Monday, July 8, 2019

Anna Marsella Fazio, age 85, born on Jan 1, 1934, died Monday, July 8, 2019

Eugene Parker Mullis, Jr., age 70, born December 31, 1948, died Monday, July 8, 2019

Rebecca Allen Miller, age 38, born Feb 22, 1986, died Mar 22, 2024

Harris Nell Griffin Jennings, age 83, died Tuesday, July 2, 2019

Jimmie Lee Gilbert, age 85, born Nov 4, 1938, died Mar 26, 2024

Carol Judith Chapman, age 55, born June 24, 1964, died Sunday, July 7, 2019

Earl Wayne Carden, age 80, born October 29, 1938, died Friday, June 28, 2019

Shirley Jaqueline Morris, age 87, born Jun 6, 1936, died Mar 22, 2024

Ernest Traves Stansel, age 85, born Sep 30, 1938, died Mar 24, 2024

Marie Elizabeth Phillips Bryce, age 89, born September 14, 1929, died Saturday, July 20, 2019

Randy Lee Nichols, age 66, born June 24, 1953, died Friday, July 26, 2019

Harris Nell Griffin Jennings, age 83, died Tuesday, July 2, 2019

Deborah “Debbie” Ann West, age 58, died July 22, 2019

Randy Lee Nichols, age 66, born June 24, 1953, died Friday, July 26, 2019

Joseph Luther Mosley, age 78, born Mar 1, 1946, died Apr 4, 2024

Deborah “Debbie” Ann West, age 58, died July 22, 2019

Wallace Allen Worthan, age 56, died Monday, July 15, 2019

Ara Bell D. Sanders, age 79, born August 06, 1939, died July 24, 2019

Earl Wayne Carden, age 80, born October 29, 1938, died Friday, June 28, 2019

Glen William Short, Jr., age 86, born Sep 7, 1937, died Mar 24, 2024

Wallace Allen Worthan, age 56, died Monday, July 15, 2019

Anna Marsella Fazio, age 85, born on Jan 1, 1934, died Monday, July 8, 2019

Ara Bell D. Sanders, age 79, born August 06, 1939, died July 24, 2019

Thomas Ray Tidwell, age 73, born Nov 6, 1950, died Apr 5, 2024

Carol Judith Chapman, age 55, born June 24, 1964, died Sunday, July 7, 2019

Rosa Lee Reese Wentz, age 95, born May 16, 1928, died Mar 20, 2024

Harris Nell Griffin Jennings, age 83, died Tuesday, July 2, 2019 Master age 2 months, died Thursday, “Marjorie” 86, born Wednesday, Andra born October Wednesday, Eugene 70, born December Monday, Randy born June July 26, 2019

Carol Judith Chapman, age 55, born June 24, 1964, died Sunday, July 7, 2019

Ara Bell born August 24, 2019

KEITH KNOWLES from page 19

will advocate for the millage rates to decrease when the revenue goes up, when the necessary spending does not increase.

I believe in the 7 P’s (prior, proper, planning, prevents, piss, poor, performance) when it comes to most things in life, but, especially when it comes to being a servant of other people’s money.

I am a homestead farmer, avid hunter and outdoorsman. I lease and manage 230+/- acres in Carroll County, 280+/- acres in Heard County and my wife just inherited 15 acres in Cleburne County. She was the only member who did not want to sell the land and had the means to keep it in her family. I know all too

STATE REP COLLINS from page 19

sion of this definition to include adoptive family members will ensure that those committing these crimes are held accountable to the full extent of the law.

We continue the fight against Human Trafficking through Senate Bill 370. This bill would expand education and create increased awareness on human trafficking. SB 370 works to expand current law of human trafficking hotline sign postings to add convenience stores, body art studios, manufacturing facilities and medical offices. Furthermore, the bill would require each board member of the Georgia Board of Massage Therapy to complete at least 30 minutes of training each year on human trafficking awareness. This bill ultimately brings more education and awareness to Georgia citizens.

Child Welfare: Sadly, the process for which adoptive and foster children are placed in homes across state lines is burdensome and lengthy for all involved. To streamline these efforts, we passed Senate Bill 483, which would enter Georgia into the updated version of the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children Act (ICPC).

This bill will help to ensure that children are placed in safe homes in a more timely manner. This bill places Georgia into an agreement under the updated version of the compact. Notably, the compact would not go into effect until 35 states have enacted similar legislation. The purpose of this revised compact would be to streamline communication between states in regard to the placement of adopted and foster children across state lines.

Georgia joins 16 states which have entered into this agreement as we anxiously await our sister states to bring that total to the needed 35 to trigger the new compact.

Children between 14-17 would receive free state identification cards under the newly passed Senate Bill 387. This bill would enable children within the Department of Family and Childrens Services (DFCS) to apply for an identification card without requiring a parent, guardian, or adult to sign or verify the application. We are hopeful that providing this opportunity to children enrolled within DFCS, will assist them in obtaining jobs and thus allow and easier integration into our workforce.

Remembering Speaker Ralston: Also taking place last week was that of honoring our last Speaker of the House, David Ralston. Speaker Jon Burns and other leaders unveiled a portrait in Speaker Ralston’s honor, which will be displayed outside of Capitol House Chamber. Accompanied by his family and esteemed guests, we held a ceremony on the House floor to honor Speaker Ralston’s enduring legacy and impact on our state.

We also gave passage to the following Senate bills during week 10:

Senate Bill 50, which would require the State Board of Education to create content standards in lifeguard and aquatic safety beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. Local boards of educa-

well the struggles of land pressure; family land staying in the family and not being sold to a builder.

I have friends who own large tracts of land in Douglas County. Their number one statement is, “I am about to be taxed out of existence.” Not only will I sway on the side of preservation, but I also want to keep the taxes low so that family members can afford to retain their family inheritance. I will present ideas such as inheriting the tax bracket along with the land. I will help landowners with preservation programs like the DNR Voluntary Public Access (VPA), protect the zoning and help create tax incentives for Ag and outdoor enthusiasts.

tion would adopt curriculum and provide instruction in lifeguarding and aquatic safety. The curriculum would have to provide sufficient training to allow students to successfully complete certification as a lifeguard upon course completion;

Senate Bill 171, which would require directors or members of the governing board or body of a development authority to complete ongoing training;

Senate Bill 205, which would explicitly state that the State Board of Funeral Service must reinstate the funeral director license of a licensee who has previously allowed a license to lapse for 10 years or less and who has applied for reinstatement;

Senate Bill 232, which would modify the types and dollar amounts of fees charged and collected by probate court judges and clerks. These fees would be charged for filings such as petitions, motions, claims and certificates, as well as for different applications, licenses and certified copies.

Conforming language in other sections of the law relating to filing fees, license fees and fireworks applications are contained in the bill.

Senate Bill 233, which would create the Georgia Education Savings Authority and the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act. The bill would change program weights in the Quality Basic Education formula and would allow capital outlays funds to be used for pre-kindergarten programs.

SB 233 would also cap tuition fees for out of district student transfers, revise grants to lowperforming schools and amend the tax credit for qualified education donations. The bill would create the Georgia Education Savings Authority, which would establish and administer student assistance programs.

The bill would also create the Georgia Promise Scholarship Act, which would provide $6,500 per student to families for qualified education-related expenses outside of the public school system;

Senate Bill 342, which would allow the Department of Human Services to use records of child abuse or neglect from the child abuse and neglect registry, or from another state, to locate, recover or provide services to a child who is determined by the department to be missing or a victim of sexual exploitation.

Senate Bill 348, which would change the timeframe from 180 days to 60 days for an individual to be considered unattended by a physician in an untimely or suspicious death circumstance. The bill would clarify that no individual would be deemed unattended by a physician while they are a resident of a longterm care facility;

Senate Bill 430, which would repeal requirements for COVID-19 liability warning signs placed either at the entrances or premises or on entry tickets issued for public gatherings;

Senate Bill 436, which would revise the definition of “implement of husbandry” and would add a definition for “operator” as it relates to the operation of farm use vehicles

My goal is to restore public service back to Politics. Through my 22 years of volunteering in public service, I have the experience and tract record to serve as District 5 Commissioner.

When a fire call comes into the fire station, I respond to any situation without bias and hesitation. I arrive on the scene only to solve the issue at hand, in the best interest of the citizen. I give it 100 percent of my effort without pay. I

TRAVIS PITTMAN from page 20

(Non-Government Organizations that get Federal money to carry out needed (?) research or who knows what), 20,000 pages of Obama Care instructions, and 95,000 pages in the Federal Registry (a measure of an administration’s regulatory activity) to give us guidance. The 95,000 pages were the highlight of Obama’s last year in office. Trump made good on his campaign promise and cut it to 56,000 pages in his second year, but the Administrative State eventually brought it back

take what I have been given and give more back.

If you will elect me to serve as your District 5 Commissioner, I will serve you with the same enthusiasm.

Therefore, I humbly ask for your vote on May 21st . Listen to my interview with WLBB community voice on April 18th.

470-879-3717

Keithknowlesdistrict5@gmail.com

up to 71,000 by the end of his term.

Can we stop this ever-increasing movement towards government control? Very few would want to go back to an agrarian society, pay two barrels of corn in taxes, and give up their smartphones. We are now so comforted by our success and innovation in this modern worldand with 50% of us relying on some form of government subsistence - I fear the train has already left the station.

Four more years of this administration and that train will literally run out if diesel.

Minor Act does apply”. This is a brief quote: “to all unborn children without limitation. And that includes unborn children who are not located in utero at the time they are killed.” So, in fact, the Alabama Supreme Court determined that these in vitro embryos are declared and given “personhood statues”, so they are children or people, and the couples can therefore proceed with their lawsuit.

How did this “Wrongful Death of a Minor Act” come about and how is it being applied here?

The Wrongful Death of a Minor Act dates back to 1872. At the time it was introduced, IVF did not exist, and they had a different understanding of the developing fetus. This is the first time that the definition of a minor or a child under that statute has been applied to an embryo that exists in a lab.

What are some of the immediate consequences of the Alabama decision?

Within the first week after the ruling, two of the eight fertility clinics in Alabama paused their IVF treatments. One of them is a large clinic at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Health System. The clinics stated that they did so out of concern for the civil-and potential criminal-liability that their physicians and patients might face.

This pause in IVF treatments also means patients who were scheduled to undergo the last part of their IVF treatment - the transfer of embryos into the uterus - have had those procedures temporarily canceled for the time being.

What are the other potential consequences of this decision for people in Alabama?

By at least some count, there are over a million and a half embryos currently frozen across the U.S. Although there is only a small percentage of these frozen embryos in Alabama, it does raise a question about what the obligations are for safely securing these frozen embryos for future use.

About half of all IVF cycles that take place involve pre-implantation genetic testing of the

embryos. Many couples that seek IVF do so because one of the members is a carrier of a known genetic mutation associated with a serious disease(s) or condition. Those couples seek IVF so that they can have embryos genetically tested prior to implantation, and if this genetic mutation is discovered in an embryo, the embryo is usually discarded.

Does that mean that pre-implantation genetic testing should no longer take place because you can’t discard the embryos?

Not necessarily, but does raise a question involving what to do with these embryos if they are human beings and can give rise to liability.

From a legal perspective, how does this case connect with local and state level abortion cases you’re monitoring?

At the time that Dobbs was decided-and even slightly before Dobbs was decided, when it became clear that the Supreme Court was likely to reverse Roe v. Wade-one of the concerns that was being discussed and written about by bioethicists, legal scholars, and reproductive technology specialists was: If the Supreme Court reverses Roe and allows states to regulate life from the moment of conception, could this ruling indeed have implications for IVF, because IVF creates embryos?

In fact, in Dobbs, the Supreme Court said that states have a legitimate interest in the preservation and protection of prenatal life at all stages of development. So, there was speculation about whether there would be litigation around IVF: Could there be attempts to ban IVF because of concerns for how embryos are treated? Could there be more aggressive attempts to regulate IVF?

Alabama - where this case occurred - introduced its abortion ban in 2019, before Dobbs, and it wasn’t coming into force because it was unconstitutional at the time. But, due to Dobbs ruling, the Alabama ban is now in force.

But interestingly, Alabama’s abortion ban defines abortion as a procedure that causes the death of an unborn child in utero, at any stage

of viability; it is a full ban on abortion at all stages of viability, but it specifically says, “in utero.” An Alabama senator said that they’d use the words “in utero” deliberately, to make clear that it was not their intention to interfere with IVF.

That doesn’t mean Alabama won’t act differently after this decision, but it reflects an understanding that IVF matters deeply to many people. And it’s a procedure that’s used to create life, to create pregnancy-so, it is a pro-life medical technology. The political headwinds around IVF and defining abortions are a complicated landscape.

Where does Personhood fit into the IVF conversation?

As has been stated in numerous op-ed articles in the past, we view a “Personhood Amendment” added to Georgia Constitution as a means to remove abortion in Georgia once and for all. Personhood is a critical dynamic in the IVF conversation because preborn life begins at the moment of initial formation-and all human beings must be entitled to equal protection of persons under the law.

The pre-born must be treated like a personin or outside the womb. Children who have been created and cryopreserved must be treated as persons, not objects. They deserve the same protection under the law as born persons.

A Personhood Amendment would ensure that no innocent person could be legally killed in Georgia. It will provide protection, equal justice, and equal rights for all innocent human life at any stage of development, level of dependency, physical and mental ability, medical prognosis, manner of conception, contributions to society, wantedness, age or race.

(Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The IVF Center, Forbes Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Wikimedia Commons)

For more information concerning Pro-life initiatives locally, in GA or nationally, or to schedule a Pro-Life presentation at your local congregation or community function, please contact us:

Duane Hack, President-West Georgia Right to Life, Duanehack46@gmail.com, 470-3702452

Best Hair

Villa Rica’s city manager discusses city’s aged infrastructure at length; mayor states the city must have its “house in order” first before imposing a fee on citizens to cover costs

story by Janice Daniel

At the Villa Rica City Mayor and Council regular meeting Tuesday, March 12, 2024, City Manager Tom Barber gave further explanation of the Stormwater Management System which he spoke on at work session earlier in the day.

Barber said that a Stormwater Management System had been proposed in Villa Rica three times in the past, but was never adopted. He said, currently, stormwater repair expenses come from the General Fund and generally total around $50,000 per year; however, due to the number of high-dollar projects that now need to be done, at least $1 million is needed in a separate revenue account to get the city to where it needs to be.

There are two decisions to be made by council: one, to engage a firm to perform the study of impervious surfaces in the city using a square-foot method on commercial and industrial businesses and a simple count of rooftops in residential areas; and two, once the study has come up with rates for the funds that will need to be collected from businesses and residents, a vote to implement the Stormwater Management Plan. Barber said he thinks citizens would prefer a flat fee on utility bills, and businesses would have varying amounts according to the square feet of their impervious surfaces. The fee for citizens will not be known until the study has been completed, but Barber said he thinks it would be less than increasing property taxes by one mill. Barber could not answer the question of how long the study will take other than “months”.

Mayor Leslie McPherson reiterated her points from the work session - that she needs more information before she can decide whether she is for or against imposing the fee:

a) make sure the city has its “house in order”

first in managing expenses

b) make sure the city is collecting fines from developers who are not meeting their stormwater control requirements

c) townhall meetings are not the best way to get citizen input; it takes personal contact (emails, etc.)

d) citizens need time to give their feedback before the vote is made

e) the city doesn’t yet know the fee rate and won’t know it until the study is complete

f) make sure the city applies for any grants available for stormwater management

Council Member Anna McCoy said she had no problem with tabling the proposed study until April. Council Member Matthew Momtahan asked if the proposal was time-sensitive, which it didn’t seem to be, so the proposal to start work on the study was tabled until the April meeting.

Barber’s next item of information was regarding implementation of the LCI which the city adopted two years ago. He said now it’s time to put out to bid the initial portion of the plan, which is environmental and traffic, trying to comply with GDOT’s schedule for a propedestrian, pro-bicycle, anti-vehicle downtown area of the City. He said the Carroll County portion of the city is not eligible, but the downtown area is eligible due to being in Douglas County. Council will be involved in adopting each phase on this 10-year implementation and the cost could be up to $20 million, of which the City has to pay 20%. Barber said this approval has to be done quickly in order to stay on GDOT’s schedule. Council voted unanimously to authorize $516,667 to this project. Finance Director Jennifer Hallman said the city is getting monthly reimbursements for the grant portion.

Barber then informed mayor and council that city staff is currently working on roughly 18 projects and making progress in diverting sewer volume from the North Plant to the West Plant to handle projects being built on the North side of the City. He also reported that the city had finally received written approval of the sampling program being followed in the city’s bid for water independence. He said the city also received a letter of permission to discharge clear water from the West Plant into one of the reservoirs, and maintain the discharge volume of the West Plant into a creek that empties into the Little Tallapoosa River, into Buckhorn, and to Carrollton. He emphasized that this is crystal clear water due to the technology being used at these two plants. He said the city is in the process of negotiating contracts with both Douglas and Carroll counties, and there will definitely

be a large increase in cost from both. Current contract with county is up for renewal on 4/1/25, so citizens will see one more year of rate increases.

City is expecting a signed agreement from the department of health to move its WIC building to Powell Park. Also, a bid will soon be put out to rebuild the first block of South Street which the city agreed to do to handle the weight of the fire trucks at the new fire station now going up. He said the city is working with Carroll County to build the road behind the fire station so that trucks can come off of Highway 78 between the fire station and Jefferson’s and enter the station from back to front of the building. He is hoping the county will agree to provide the equipment needed free of charge, and

Journey Fellowship

770-537-2300

409 Center Point Rd. Bremen

Be careful when naming beneficiaries

FINANCIAL ADVISOR FRED O’NEAL

You might not have thought much about beneficiary designations, but they can play a big role in your estate planning.

When you purchase insurance policies and open investment accounts, such as your IRA, you’ll be asked to name a beneficiary, and, in some cases, more than one. This might seem easy, especially if you have a spouse and children, but if you experience a major life event, such as a divorce or a death in the family, you may need to make some changes, because beneficiary designations carry a lot of weight under the law.

In fact, these designations can supersede the instructions you may have written in your will or living trust, so everyone in your family

should know who is expected to get which assets. One significant benefit of having proper beneficiary designations in place is that they may enable beneficiaries to avoid the time-consuming - and possibly expensiveprobate process.

The beneficiary issue can become complex because not everyone reacts the same way to events such as divorce — some people want their ex-spouses to still receive assets while others don’t. Furthermore, not all the states have the same rules about how beneficiary designations are treated after a divorce. And some financial assets are treated differently than others.

Here’s the big picture: If you’ve named your spouse as a beneficiary of an IRA, bank or brokerage account, insurance policy, will or trust, this beneficiary designation will automatically be revoked upon divorce in about half the states. So, if you still want your ex-spouse to get these assets, you will need to name them as a non-spouse beneficiary after

Carroll County marriage licenses

MARCH 1-31, 2024

the divorce. But if you’ve named your spouse as beneficiary for a 401(k) plan or pension, the designation will remain intact until and unless you change it, regardless of where you live.

However, in community property states, couples are generally required to split equally all assets they acquired during their marriage. When couples divorce, the community property laws require they split their assets 50/50, but only those assets they obtained while they lived in that state. If you were to stay in the same community property state throughout your marriage and divorce, the ownership issue is generally straightforward, but if you were to move to or from one of these states, it might change the joint ownership picture.

Thus far, we’ve only talked about beneficiary designation issues surrounding divorce. But if an ex-spouse — or any beneficiary — passes away, the assets will generally pass to a contingent beneficiary —

which is why it’s important that you name one at the same time you designate the primary beneficiary. Also, it may be appropriate to name a special needs trust as beneficiary for a family member who has special needs or becomes disabled. If this individual were to be the direct beneficiary, any assets passing directly into their hands could affect their eligibility for certain programs.

You may need to work with a legal professional to sort out beneficiary designation issues and the rules that apply in your state. But you may also want to do a beneficiary review with your financial advisor whenever you experience a major life event, such as a marriage, divorce or the addition of a new child. Your investments, retirement accounts and life insurance proceeds are valuable assets — and you want them to go where you intended.

Fred O’Neal, financial advisor, 410 College Street, Carrollton, GA 770-832-2141. Article was written by Edward Jones for use by local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.

Carroll County pistol permits

Number of Weapons Carry Permits applied for: MARCH 1-31, 2024: 168

Concerning Weapons Carry Permits:

On April 12, 2022, Governor Brian Kemp signed into law the Georgia Constitutional Carry Senate Bill 319 and the License Reciprocity Measure House Bill 218 which now allows a lawful weapons carrier to carry a concealed weapon without a gun permit requirement. A background check is still required in order to purchase weapon - and the applicant must pass the background check - but a permit to carry is now longer required. Georgia is one of 24 states that now has Constitutional Carry which follows the intent of the Second Amendment of the Constitution allowing the right to bear arms.

Carroll County births

MARCH 1-31, 2024:

Tanner Medical Center, Carrollton: Females: 61 Males: 54

Tanner Medical Center, Villa Rica:� Females: 39 Males: 46

Carroll County cattle receipts

Carroll County Sales Barn 225 Sales Barn Road, Carrollton

April 1, 2024: 668

March 25, 2024: 667

March 18, 2024: 586

March 11, 2024: 402

Carroll County jail population

(The Jack T. Bell Detention Center, 1000 Newnan Road,Carrollton)

Total population as of

APRIL 2, 2024: 477

Males: 392 Females: 85

Carroll County prison population

Total population as of APRIL2, 2024: 239

Capacity: 246 Males: 100%

The Carroll County Correctional Institute is a separate entity from the Carroll County Jail (which houses males and females on a temporary basis)

NO MALFEASANCE from page 8 matter and no further action will be taken. Council approved this motion unanimously.

At the Tuesday, March 12th regular meeting, council came out of executive session and had about a half hour of empassioned discussion, ending with Barber’s 5-day suspension vote. April 2nd Special Called Meeting was on the heels of Barber’s not terminating McDougal when he returned from suspension. At the April 2nd meeting, Mayor McPherson stated that “a few people have put us in this position” and “it has disrupted the entire city for months.” She said that many professional consultants are working for the city and know what’s going on in the city besides Tom Barber. McPherson stated, “We will not fall apart. It is those people with boots on the ground who are doing the work.” She said all the turmoil in the city is because two people wanted to keep their relationship of power, even though the city voted “two to one” to elect her as mayor.

CITIZENS SPEAK OUT from page 14

vote to approve that item should have been tabled until the city had all the receipts to match up with the certified letters of notice they sent.

Citizen Jackie Childress said that City Manager Tom Barber had violated his office and position, and she has asked the Attorney General’s Office for an investigation into Barber’s abuse of power. “We can’t move forward with cancer among us,” she said.

Citizen Rob Custer also spoke about the Berry Drive place of worship, saying the city had failed in sending notices and in the requirement for signs. He said he was brushed off by the city for trying to get council’s vote nullified due to not following correct procedure. Mayor McPherson asked Custer to give his phone number to the assistant city clerk for follow-up by someone from the city.

Citizen Joshua Evans said the city should not foot the bill for the proposed Stormwater

Council Member Anna McCoy stated that both sides in this division will believe what they want to believe, but they “didn’t give Tom a chance. . . giving a lot of power to the mayor is a precedent we don’t want to set.” McCoy said she did not like Tom Barber when she first met him, because of his personality, but when he suggested that she start meeting with him about business related to the city, she stated, “Tom knows what he is doing. He has accomplished many good things for the city. He put a budget in place to get the city through another economic downturn, refinanced bonds to bring a 20-year-old water plant up to where it needs to be.” But she also said, “nothing’s going to get better until he is gone. We should put him out of his misery, and all of us [council], too. Just get it done and move on.”

Council Member Shirley Marchman said that “Tom” has stated that he cannot work without McDougal due to their close working relationship while McDougal was mayor.

Management System because the city does not enforce non-compliance by builders and developers, that they should issue tickets for noncompliance with maintenance agreements. He said “things” need to be done before citizens are called on to help pay for the Stormwater Management plan.

Under Community Development, council denied Special Exception Use Requests for two smoke/vape shops on the agenda, partially due to citizens speaking against them during the public hearings.

RA-05-23, rezoning of the area of Whitworth Road and Highway 61 was also denied by council. Even though the aluminum anodizing plant had already moved elsewhere, the applicant was still asking for the rezoning without anyone knowing what might be put there. City Attorney David Mecklin said the denial will prohibit the applicant from applying again for one year.

Marchman said, “This is not a popularity contest. The question that should be asked is, is he doing his job?” Maybe he should not have got involved in the politics of the election, she said, but that “best city manager Villa Rica has had in the last 10 years. . . You are throwing him away because of personal reasons. People are doing things that are not right.”

Council Member Matthew Momtahan stated in response to Carter’s comment that council members should not get involved in elections, said he wanted to clear up misinformation

VR FIRESTATION ROAD from page 27

the city will provide the labor and materials. Barber discussed water line removal under the roundabout coming to Conners Road. He said a potential site has been agreed on for Butterball’s, but it is small and may only be used for a drive through. Mayor McPherson asked if the problem of North Avenue water pressure was on the list of upcoming projects. Barber replied that would be up to council.

about a mailer he sent out where his only intention was to defend himself and council. He said portions of that mailer were used out of context, cut and pasted and even used during the mayoral campaign. “I never authorized my name, picture or statements to be used on any political mailer, and any that were used was without my permission.”

Resolution to instruct Barber to terminate Gil McDougal by Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at 12:00 noon was passed by council unanimously. Barber did as instructed the next day.

“We can only move it up if we move something else back,” he said, and the problem is that fixing the water lines will tear up the road, so the road will have to be completely re-built as part of that project. Mayor asked about the SPLOST money coming in? Barber said it was used to buy the Worldchangers Church. He said council will have to decide upcoming priorities with next year’s budget. Council went into executive session.

Superior Structures

The Blue Group

from page 21

grown into bushes with delicious fruit and were developing that green glow of the Springtime showers. I’m sure you can imagine this emeraldization. To experience it, you don’t need blueberry bushes, just enough forest and the kind of April showers that our area can produce, plus a good stretch of of quiet-time. You know what I’m saying. (I know my neighbors do.) As far as we know, we were the first to have brought such commercial berries into the county. We weren’t about to make a living from those “agricultural” efforts. Instead, those hundreds of gallons of blueberries, for that’s what began coming in each season, were donated to the various non-profit local organizations that Margery and I had become associated with. This accidental development has been incredibly rewarding.

It all started with Sue Jones who, at the time, was involved as a volunteer (as was Margery), with the “First Steps” Program of the Carroll County Council on Child Abuse. They came up with the idea of volunteers picking the berrries for the organization to sell, as a fundraising strategy. In due time, we were hosting berry pickers from such organizations as the League of Women Voters, Friends of McIntosh Reserve, and our own Friends of the Whitesburg Library. We donated the crop for a good 25 years! This activity would eventually involve growers in Alabama. But, let me tell you of an incidental side to these charitable activities. Its memory continues, and pleases

RIVERRAMBLES from page 21

Sure, I like to make my vet laugh by telling him, “Shine’s not just a good dog, he’s a really nice person.” But let’s be honest: dogs can be more human than humans. And besides, a river is not a person. She’s not even a pronoun. Seeing non-humans as persons is nothing new. Indigenous people give us their view of the world using animistic language that sees all things as somehow alive and capable of expressing themselves. Plants gossip and women wear rivers in their hair. In 2017, the Mäori people won a designation of personhood from the New Zealand government for the Whanganui River. Historian Grahame Harvey wrote, “The world is full of persons, only some of whom are human.”

Here in our country, where corporations are persons, the designation of personhood on a river relies solely on human perspective and perception. We’re not seeing as a river sees (provided she sees at all), nor hearing as she hears (if indeed she does). Instead, we give her ‘person’ status so that her interests can be respected and protected in a court of law, undoubtably a noble intention. We want to ensure that the river is not exploited, not made to suffer in unnatural ways that keep her from thriving. Yet, in this litigious culture, you can bet that in no time at all lawsuits against the river will come flooding in. And can’t you just hear them? The river wrecked my home! She swept my car into a tree! Doesn’t she know how much those golf clubs cost? There will be retroactive cases going back to The Flood.

And while I trust there’d be plenty of people standing up for the Hooch in court, no one can deny the incriminating evidence based on sheer volume. Who’s going to pony up for the river’s damages? Who’s going to pay for all the collateral suffering through time? You can see the problem here. Nonetheless, it’s a fact of this life that when we come together - we in this case referring to all Earth’s inhabitants in whatever realm they occupy - we can accomplish much that is good and lifesustaining (just think of the bacteria that keep your gut working properly). So to all you young and future wordsmiths out there, grab your pronouns and that riverine fluidity and start seeing and hearing and speaking like a river. Asking in her true voice for what she truly needs. Until then, April will remain the cruelest of months.

me. It pleases me profoundly.

As the pickers volunteered from their respective charities, so they scheduled their times to pick together. That way, we almost always had pickers who were friends. Typically, there would be five or six out in the bushes, while I would sit on our porch listening to their sporadic chatter and enthusiasm. There was constant sampling and occasional excitement, especially when big and sweet berries had been found. One day there were at least 14 out there. I sat at the table on the porch, aware of the unusual volume of the talk and the vibrations among the bushes, and realized that this was special. Voices of women, and there were men, too, floated out of those eight foot high blueberry plants, and, to me, it felt like this... all this, was a very high usage of the blueberry bush. And then, realizing, so many years later, that those babies from ABAC were the ones who got me to discover the emeraldization of Spring on Black Dirt Road!

Edward Jones

Running for this position is about continuing her service to Carroll County through the Magistrate Court. Kierston began working in the Court in high school and was appointed as an Assistant Magistrate in 2016. From labeling case files as an intern to adjudicating cases, Magistrate Court has been a large part of her life. On the bench, she has earned a reputation for fairness, efficiency, following the law, and striving to do the right thing. She has built strong relationships with local law enforcement –always being available to do what is necessary to assist them. She will continue that proven record as Chief Magistrate.

As Chief Magistrate, she will bring our Carroll County values and an unrelenting commitment to public safety to the bench. She will uphold the law to maintain law and order in ourcommunity. While at the same time, she will continue her proven commitment to fairness by treating others the way she would want to be treated, especially small, first-time offenders.