StarNews January 2020 Issue

StarNews

CARROLL COUNTY, GEORGIA’s ONLY LOCALLY OWNED LOCALLY OPERATED NEWSPAPER

NEWS REPORTING / NEWS RECAP / NEWS ANALYSIS

JANUARY 2020 • VOLUME 26 NUMBER 1

w w w. s t a r n e w s g a o n l i n e . c o m StarNews monthly traditional print publication / StarNews Online daily local news

Carrollton City Council begins new year with expected and unexpected changes New mayor Betty Cason and new Ward 4 council member Bob Uglum sworn in Ward 1 council member Gerald Byrd unexpectedly resigns

Uglum were sworn in to office Thursday, January 2,

by Sue Horn The City of Carrollton began the new year 2020 with 2020 ahead of the Monday, January 6th meeting. Cason expected and unexpected changes. A new mayor and become the newest mayor of the county’s largest new council member, as expected, were in attendance at See NEW MAYOR CARROLLTON page 7 the Monday, January 6th regular meeting.

Absent was long time Ward 1 council member Gerald Bryd who announced his resignation from the council on social media (Facebook) hours after the meeting had ended.

Former Carroll County probate judge Betty Cason and retired business man Bob

2019

The YEAR in

REVIEW

Carroll County’s top news stories for the past year beginning on page 10

Betty Cason sworn in PIC

Commission chair admonishes commissioners for questioning finances during work session

Chairman Morgan says questions should have been asked outside of work session: “Not in a meeting like this”

by Sue Horn The Carroll County Board of Commissioners work session held Thursday, January 2, 2020, became contentious following questions and comments by District 5 and 2 Commissioners Ernie Reynolds and Clint Chance about the county’s finances, resulting in Chairman Michelle Morgan admonishing them for asking those questions in a public meeting. District 3 Commissioner Tommy Lee immediately followed with the question to Morgan as to what was the purpose of a work session if not to discuss finances or any other issues on the agenda?

The 4:00 p.m. work session was held in the superior courtroom, top floor of the historic courthouse located at the corner

Commissioner Tommy Lee stated, “I thought a work session’s purpose was to discuss finances or any issue on the agenda? I mean, we are presented a financial and if we have issues with it, I thought we were supposed to discuss it at a work session.” of Newnan and Dixie streets, Carrollton, in preparation for the Tuesday, January 7th, 7:00 p.m. regular meeting. In attendance were Board Chair Michelle Morgan and all district commissioners: District 1 Montrell McLendon, District 2 Clint Chance, District 3 Tommy Lee, See TRANSPARENCY page 2

Fundraiser set for Villa Rica’s public library: “After-Hours Trivia”

Update on Southwire’s company-wide cyber attack December 9th

Saturday, January 18th 2 pm-5 pm: $10 ticket

by Prissi Sullivan Friends of the New Villa Rica Public Library (FONVRPL)

by Sue Horn will be hosting an After-Hours Southwire Company experienced a Trivia on January 18, 2020 from company-wide cyber attack on December 2 pm until 5 pm at Villa Rica 9th. Their response was immediate with a Public Library, 869 Dallas self-quarantine shutting down the entire Highway. Since the purpose is network. Within 24 hours, Southwire was to raise funds for the library, operational, and the company began workBetty Cason, accompanied by her husband Don there will be a charge of $10 per ing closely with a “cyber partner” to investi- Mckenzie, is sworn in as Carrollton’s newest mayor by person to play; however, See SOUTHWIRE page 7 Judge Lee Smith January 2, 2020. Photo by Sue Horn refreshments will be served,

Operations “back to normal”

door prizes will be given, and awards will go to the winners.

Tickets must be purchased in advance from the Villa Rica library or a member of Friends.

All funds from this event will go to the FONVRPL to fund programs, evens, and special projects at the library.

John Sandrene, president of FONVRPL, works closely with See FUNDRAISER page 9

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County schools system’s current/ongoing SPLOST projects

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$6M in projects left in the current SPLOST; voters will decide yes or no on SPLOST #6 this November

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by Prissi Sullivan Carroll County voters have given their stamp of approval on five SPLOSTs (Special Local Option Sales Taxes) since 1998, when the first was passed. Another SPLOST request - number six - will be on this year’s ballot for Carroll County voters to approve or not.

SPLOST is a one cent additional tax on sales in Carroll County; it helps ease the tax burden of property owners in paying for ‘brick and mortar’ projects. The last one was passed in 2015—with collections beginning in 2018. The collected monies are kept in individual accounts.

For the county schools system, there are

$6 million worth of projects left in the current SPLOST. “All of these should be completed by the end of the 2021 school year,” stated Terry Jones, Assistant Superintendent of Administrative and Support Services.

At the November 2019 board of education work session, SPLOST projects were discussed. Four classrooms at Ithica Elementary School, several renovations at Bowdon Elementary, and canopy projects at Central Middle School and Mount Zion Middle School are all completed. The Ithica project was an $816,870 expenditure, completely covered by SPLOST. Bowdon Elementary included renova-

tions for the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) and roof and interior renovations. The budget for Bowdon was $1,112,265: $716,210 from SPLOST and $522,495 from state funds.

The canopy projects, which included canopy installation, windows, gutters, and downspouts, at Central and Mt. Zion came in at a cost of $478,814; $103,902 from state funding and $374,912 from SPLOST. Several other projects are underway and have a tentative completion date. Central Middle School will be gaining a six-classroom addition to be completed in the fall of 2020. Scheduled for completion in the sumSee SPLOST #6 NOVEMBER page 27

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MORGAN LEE CHANCE 9.5” by 4.0”

Shown above at the Thursday, January 2, 2020 Carroll County Commission work session left to right are Chairman Michelle Morgan, District 3 Commissioner Tommy Lee, and District 2 Commissioner Clint Chance. Morgan told members of the board they were not to bring up certain questions about the county’s finances at work session meetings, to which both Chance and Lee objected. Photo by Sue Horn TRANSPARENCY from front page

District 4 Steve Fuller, District 5 Ernie Reynolds, and District 6 George Chambers.

The county’s finance director Alecia Searcy presented the financial recap stating that “revenues were strong” and the county is “$4 million ahead in cash of last year . . and will exceed our budget.” She added that “department heads are a doing a good job of maintaining expenses.”

Chairman Morgan then asked if there were any questions from the board for Searcy.

Commissioner Ernie Reynolds, who is a retired auditor from the Georgia State Deprtment of Audits, said he had “a couple” of questions. In particular, he asked if there was a solution to remedy the lateness of some invoice postings to the county’s monthly financial reports as this can produce

an inaccurate financial picture for individual months.

Reynolds said, “Some of the postings of, I guess you call it accounts payable, were running late. . . the postings we [commission board] are seeing don’t represent a true picture of all the bills. So, I just wondered if there is a reason for those running late? Or is there something we need to do to catch those up?”

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Searcy answered that “at this point, we are caught up. . . that’s one of the downsides of not running a full accural accounting system. . . we post our payables when we get them. . . in a full accural system, you would go ahead make that accrual at the end of the month. But, in governmental accounting, you don’t do it that way. That’s a downside of doing our accounting. If vendors are getSee PUBLIC MEETINGS page 3

can be.”

Searcy said, “I agree with you. I would ting us invoices slow, you know, we can call love to see a full accrual system so we could them and ask them for them, but I don’t do that. But that’s not the accounting stanreally have the staffing to call . . . So I kinda dard for governmental accounting. I have to use that to our advantange At this point Morgan work within the standards I because we get that cash sitam given, and work within, ting there. Now, at the end of interjected saying, “Let me what 520 other employees do the year, we square every- remind you all, according [presenting invoices in a thing up.” to our enabling legislation I timely manner or not].”

Commissioner Chance am the Chief Budget Reynolds then circled back said, “Commissioner Officer. So that’s really to his original point, “I just Reynolds’ comment is not wanted to know. . . . if I look totally off base at all. There more day-to-day, that if down through departments have been some things to my there are people running and there’s someone at 30% understanding that were behind or running over, [in expenditures], I will think behind. . . What about inter- that’s really more my job.” ‘wow’ they doing really great, nal departments, such as the but if I find out there are a lot court system? Has that always been caught of postings that haven’t been posted and up to speed?” they are really at 56%, then they’re really Searcy said, “I wouldn’t say that any not so good. So, that’s the only thing...” department has been caught up to speed at Morgan interjected saying, “Let me any particular time. . . all departments from remind you all, according to our enabling time to time have invoices that fall through legislation I am the Chief Budget Officer. So the cracks or are not available to the finance that’s really more day-to-day, that if there department until it’s past the date. If it was are people running behind or running over, due in November and we receive on that’s really more my job.”

December 1st, then we post it on December Morgan continued, but did not address 1st. That’s how governmental acounting Reynold’s question of what a solution might works. . . I put together exact expenses.” be for more timely invoice postings. She Chance said, “It looks like we are caught also commented on a point that had not been up. . . I’m not directing this at anyone.. . We raised in this discussion, that is of whether govern off a monthly report for a reason. If budgets were purposely being broken. She line items are $100,000 difference from also admonished those district commissionprior year to date or $40 grand or $30 grand, ers that while they might be interested in the that’s telling us a story. It doesn’t mean it is county’s finances/ timely expense tracking incorrect. In some cases I think it has been, as an individual, it was her job as county as far as lagging behind in the bookings. . . chairman to “take care of” it.

But, the reality is that we do not govern on Morgan said, “I don’t think we have a June 30. . we govern month to month and I department head or an elected official that is think that’s why it’s critical that the reports going to purposely go over budget. I just be accurate every month as much as they do not think they are going to do that. . . I

PUBLIC MEETINGS from page 2

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January 12, 2020 Page 3

want to remind you some of this day-to-day Morgan said, “It is, but it’d be nice to stuff is my job to do. . .while it may be bring things up ahead of time so we could important to you all individually, I just want be prepared to have answers for you.” to remind you these are things that I will Lee responded, “It would be nice if we take care of.”

Chance objected stating, knew things ahead of Chance objected stating, time.” Morgan said, “What “Are you. . I mean, I don’t “Are you. . I mean, I don’t exactly are you asking you understand your comment. understand your comment. don’t know?”

One of our jobs collectively One of our jobs collectively Lee said, “That we don’t as a board is to watch over as a board is to watch over know?” Morgan said, “Yes. the finances. So, if I am . .what exactly are you askthe finances. So, if I am aware that something is ing?” Lee said, “There are aware that something is behind a couple of months, I a lot of things that we have an issue with that. I’m behind a couple of months, I aren’t aware of that go on.” not saying that’s not your have an issue with that. I’m Reynolds then asked for not saying that’s not your a monthly update on job but you’re saying - “ Morgan interrupted, “I SPLOST. Searcty said she job but you’re saying - “ think you need to bring that would have that available.

Morgan interrupted, “I up to me and you don’t According to the think you need to bring that announce it at a meeting like Georg i a Municipal up to me and you don’t this. I think that is a discusAssociation Handbook on announce it at a meeting work sessions: “Work session you need to be having with me individually.” sions provide members the like this. I think that is a Chance responded, discussion you need to be opportunity to meet with “Well, I’ve only been asking having with me individually.” staff in order to delve into the questions for twelve complex issues, discuss months. . . so, . . .” solutions and alternatives, give direction to Reynolds again attempted to circle back staff, finalize agendas, or create consent to the issue, ”I look at it month to month, I agendas. Pre-meeting work sessions may be don’t care about day-to-day. . . for example, used by councilmembers to prepare for our roads department is at right at 50% so upcoming regular, formal meetings. These I’m thinking okay, that’s probably fine, but. . meetings are typically more casual in tone, . those are just things that, you know, a tardy are often used for information gathering.” posting system would reflect an inaccurate The commission work sesson scheduled picture. . . I just want to know. . . are we for Thursday, January 30th has been canoperating at a current month to month?” celled. The board will attend a “Planning Commissioner Lee then stated, “I Retreat” at Callaway Gardens, 4500 thought a work session’s purpose was to dis- Southern Pine Drive, Pine Mountain, cuss finances or any issue on the agenda? I Georgia 31822, beginning 9:00 a.m. Friday, mean, we are presented a financial and if we January 31 and concluding at noon on have issues with it, I thought we were sup- Saturday, February 1st. This is a public posed to discuss it at a work session.” meeting.

OMA

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UGA’s handy, helpful books for sale include Georgia Pest Management Handbook, Georgia Master Gardener Handbook, and Insect Identification Guide from press release

by Paul Pugliese for CAES News The gift of knowledge is one that any farmer or gardener can truly appreciate.

Working with plants and animals is both an art and a science — a lifelong learning process. Research is continually finding new and better ways for farmers and gardeners to deal with the many challenges that nature throws at us. I suspect there are many local farmers, hunters with wildlife food plots, and backyard enthusiasts who would appreciate the gift of knowledge.

There are literally hundreds of UGA Extension publications online that can be accessed for free at extension.uga.edu/publications. Another gift idea could be to download and print all the Extension bulletins and circulars we have on a specific topic — such as gardening, lawn care or pasture management — and compile them into a reference binder. You might use an entire ink cartridge, but it’s definitely worth the cost if it makes the information

more accessible to the farmer or gardener in your life.

UGA Extension also has several reference books on the publications website at ugaextensionstore.com that can be purchased as a gift.

Some of the more popular books for sale include the Georgia Pest Management Handbook Home and Garden Edition, Georgia Master Gardener Handbook, Insect Identification Guide for Southeastern Landscapes, Management of Insect Pests in and Around the Home, Native Plants of North Georgia, Troubleshooting Vegetable Production Problems in the Southeast, and Weeds of Southern Turfgrasses.

Each of these books and field guides can be purchased for $20 or less at ugaextensionstore.com You can place your order online for any of the reference books and include a copy of the purchase confirmation inside a card.

These items can be shipped directly to your gift recipient.

from press release In response to the U.S. International Trade Commission’s (ITC) unanimous vote in favor of a finding of material injury in its antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) investigations of imports of Aluminum Wire and Cable (AWC) from China, Southwire shared the following commentary: “We support the ITC’s affirmative finding of material injury in the AD/CVD investigations of aluminum wire and cable from China,” said Norman Adkins, Southwire’s Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. “Southwire has long been a believer in the power of free trade, and the ITC’s finding, coupled with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s final determinations on dumping and illegal

subsidization, will better allow us to compete with Chinese producers of wire and cable on a level playing field.”

On Oct. 22, 2019, the U.S. Department of Commerce issued its final affirmative determination that Chinese manufacturers of AWC have been selling these products into the U.S. market at less than fair market value and receiving illegal subsidies from the Chinese Government.

Commerce will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to begin collecting cash deposits on such imports at rates ranging from 81.27% to 218.42%.

Adkins said, “With this affirmative decision, we now have added protections against imported products from Chinese manufacturers who engage in unfair trade practices.”

Southwire supports U.S. International Trade Commission’s unanimous vote on aluminum wire and cable imports from China

Georgia attorney general encouraged by U.S. Court of Appeals ruling on Obamacare

from press release Attorney General Chris Carr recentlyissued the following statement regarding the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit holding that the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate is unconstitutional: “Once again, the courts have agreed with what we already knew – the cornerstone of Obamacare is unconstitutional,” said Attorney General Chris Carr. “Now, we need to get back to work and do it the right way.

Congress, the States and the private sector must seize this great opportunity to fix the mess created by Obamacare and do right by the American people.”

Attorney General Carr stated he remains committed to upholding the rule of law to protect the basic principles on which our nation is founded. It is in keeping with this commitment that he joined a coalition of states challenging the constitutionality of Obamacare in federal district court in February of 2018.

When the U.S. Supreme Court upheld

Obamacare in 2012, a majority of the justices held that Obamacare’s individual mandate was constitutional only because its accompanying tax penalty could justify forcing individuals to purchase health insurance under Congress’ taxing power.

In 2017, Congress voted to remove the tax penalty for those who lacked insurance. The coalition has consistently argued that without that penalty, Obamacare’s intrusive individual mandate cannot be preserved as a tax, rendering Obamacare entirely unlawful.

In December of 2018, Judge Reed O’Connor of the Northern District of Texas agreed with the coalition that the individual mandate was unconstitutional, and that the remainder of Obamacare was not severable from that provision. Shortly after, petitioners appealed this decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. That court, too, declared the individual mandate unconstitutional, returning the case to the Northern District of Texas to determine the effect of that ruling on the rest of Obamacare.

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Celebrating Carroll County centenarians

Living life as a Centenarian: Millie Wade turns 102 years old February 20, 2020

become the first woman to Millie, John, Albert, and the baby sister

by Kim Reine Frances. Millie shared that she and all of her fly around the world in her The idea of living past 100 years of age Lockheed Electra plane may be a difficult sell for some, but to others brothers and sisters were quite close when she disappeared. On it’s alluring. Granted, an older person who is throughout their lives, as children and as July 2, 1937, Earhart was relatively healthy may have a much stronger grownups. Her life was always centered aiming for Howland desire to live past 100 than a younger person around her family.

Island. After taking off Millie grew up during the Great who is cushioned from the inevitability of from Lae, New Guinea, on Depression, but says she and her family aging. Positive mindset plays an important the third to last leg of never seemed to lack. Her mother was a role in exceptional longevity.

Earhart’s attempt to wonderful seamstress. She would accept Throughout the world, the global circumnavigate the globe, handed down clothes, take them apart, and population is aging at an historic rate. The redesign and sew outfits for she failed to locate number of nonagenarians Howland and vanished her own children. Millie’s (people in their 90s) rose When asked what the without a trace. President father worked in broilers from 7.8 million to 16.5 secret to life was Millie Franklin Roosevelt and seemed to always be million between 2000 authorized a massive tworeplied, “always stay able to find work to and 2015. The number of week search in which provide.

Living on the farm centenarians (people age busy and keep going.

Millie’s brother Bernard helped provide fresh food 100 and older) is Get plenty of rest, modest for the family. She recalls was part of. Sadly, they expected to jump from living and stay away that every child would help never found her. On July 180,000 in 2000 to 3.2 19, 1937, Earhart was with all of the family million by 2050. from smoking, alcohol declared lost at sea. chores, including cleaning Statistics point to perhaps and drugs. . . I never One of the most and cooking. When their 24 centenarians may memorable historic even took over the family cow wasn’t in milk reside in Carroll County, devastations that Millie and the neighbor’s cow Georgia. StarNews counter medications, recalls is the bombing of was, they would purchase highlighted two of those I never needed them.” milk from them. She Pearl Harbor. She special citizens in the remembers being at her remembered that it was a December 2019 edition, mother’s house on a special treat to feast on Sundays with a and we highlight one here today.

Sunday for lunch when roasted chicken that the farm provided.

In nonagenarians and centenarians, word was sent about the Holidays were always a “great exceptional longevity is characterized by attack. She said, “It was celebration” at the Galekas household. At positive psychological traits and mindset, mind boggling to hear Christmas time, the tree always had some hard work, and strong bonds with family, presents under it, despite the hardships from about all of those ships faith, and land, according to the results of a being sunk. It was the Depression. She remembers that they mixed-methods quantitative-qualitative unbelievable that we could At 102 years old, Mille Wade of Carroll County, Georgia would get cleaned up and dress up in their study published on the website best clothes for Christmas and Thanksgiving be attacked like that.” www.cambridge.org. has been a centenarian for two years Millie’s brother-in-law suppers. After special suppers, the family “Studying the strategies of exceptionally was there at the time Pof the attack. “They would enjoy her mother’s homemade pies. long-lived and lived-well individuals, who service. Luckily, all of them came home.”

Millie’s brother Bernard was in the Unied lost all of those soldiers, but he was not one not just survive, but also thrive and flourish, Mille met her husband George Wade, of them,” she said. “It was quite traumatic.

States Army. She recalls that he was enhances our understanding of health and while she was in high school. George was a My mother cried. I didn’t understand why involved in the search for the lost pilot functional capacities in all age groups,” friend of her brother Bernard; they played until later. It was because we had five men Amelia Earhart. Earhardt had attempted to wrote the authors, led by Anna Scelzo, soccer together. She said that one day she in our family that would have to go into the PsyD, MSc, Department of Mental Health See CENTENARIAN MILLIE page 6 and Substance Abuse, in Chiavarese, Italy.

They also examined positive psychological traits among 29 nonagenarians and centenarians and 51 “young-old” family members (aged 51-75 years) by using standardized rating scales of mental and physical well-being, resilience, optimism, anxiety, depression, and perceived stress.

The researchers found that through quality interview, themes that emerged were positivity (resilience and optimism), working hard, and strong ties to both family and religion. Resilience was also identified an integral part of nonagenarian and centenarian identity. They highlighted that centenarians are role models for resilience because they have survived decades of risk and threats. They have had to adapt to countless daily stressors through a long life and balance between acceptance of and grit to overcome adversities along with a CARROLLTON • 770.834.7631 positive attitude and close ties to family, SouthlandInsAgency.com religion, and land, providing purpose in life,” researchers concluded.

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Mildred “Millie” Galeskas Wade

Mildred “Millie” Galeskas Wade became a member of the centenarian club almost two years ago. Millie will turn 102 years old on February 20, 2020.

Millie was born to Mr. Joseph and Mrs. Margret Galeskas, on a farm in Massachusetts. There was a total of nine siblings; Helen, Monica, Peter, Joe, Bernard,

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Animal cruelty now a felony punishable with fines and up to seven years in prison

by Kim Reine The Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act, public law number 11672 116th Congress, a federal anti-cruelty bill, is now law. This animal protection measure was supported and passed through the House of Representatives and the Senate. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Patrick Toomey (R-PA.) were the lead sponsors. It was approved and signed by President Trump on November 25,2019.

PACT is a federal ban on animal cruelty, outlawing purposeful crushing, burning, drowning, suffocation, impalement or other violence causing serious bodily injury to animals. Those convicted would face federal felony charges, fines and up to seven years in prison.

Humane groups that worked for the bill’s

passage are calling the new law a defining moment for establishing federal protections for animals. While all 50 states have felony provisions against animal cruelty, there’s no federal ban against animal cruelty and torture. As a result of the PACT Act, federal law enforcement and prosecutors will finally have the tools they need to formerly prosecute those who commit malicious acts of animal cruelty within federal jurisdiction with the full force of felony penalties.

“PACT makes a statement about American values. Animals are deserving of protection at the highest level,” said Kitty Block, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States. “The approval of this measure by the Congress and the president marks a new era in the codification of kindness to animals within federal law. For decades, a

national anti-cruelty law was a dream for animal protectionists.”

“After decades of work to protect animals and bearing witness to some of the worst cruelty, it’s so gratifying the Congress and president unanimously agreed that it was time to close the gap in the law and make malicious animal cruelty within federal jurisdiction a felony,” said Sara Amundson, president of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “We cannot change the horrors of what animals have endured in the past, but we can crack down on these crimes moving forward.”

The PACT Act helps to strengthen the Animal Crush Video Prohibition Act, which prohibits the creation, sale and distribution of videos depicting extreme acts of animal cruelty, by allowing federal law enforcement to

CENTENARIAN MILLIE from page 5

much work when he returned but they seemed to pick up where they left off.”

When her daughters both became school age, Millie went to work at the McGinnis’ Department store as a bookkeeper. She and her husband worked slightly different work schedules and one was always home to see the girls off to school and to welcome them home after the school day ended.

Millie was able to be off in the summers to stay home with her daughters. She says her best years were when she was able to be at home with her children. She also shared that her best accomplishment in life were having her two girls.

Millie’s advice, “There is always something in life. This is it, we get one life and when something happens you have to choose to pick yourself up and go on.”

After she retired from Paul Revere Insurance, she and her husband enjoyed traveling. They enjoyed a three week tour of Europe then to France, Spain, Aruba and their favorite was time spent in Bermuda.

Her family is still the most important thing in her life. Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren live all over the country: Georgia, New Hampshire, Colorado, Texas, Tennessee and Washington. They all came to Georgia to celebrate her 100th birthday. She recalls it being such an amazing wonderful surprise.

When asked what the secret to life was Millie replied, “always stay busy and keep going. Get plenty of rest, modest living and stayaway from smoking, alcohol and drugs. . . I never even took over the counter medications, I never needed them.”

she and George went out on a double date with Bernard and his girlfriend. George lived in the next town, but would come often to see Millie and from there their relationship grew and they were married. Mille said they had 59 happy years before he passed away.

She recalled when the government drafted her husband. George was sent to Camp Croft, South Carolina, for basic training, then sent to Italy. He was deployed for two years. She shared that it was a struggle trying to live on the $100 a month the Army paid.

She was at home with her young daughters, Joanne and Carolyn, and became their sole provider and caretaker. Millie’s face lit up when she remembered when her husband finally got to come home. Millie stated, “It was like he never went away. There wasn’t

prosecute the underlying acts of crueltyregardless of whether the abusers created a video of their conduct or not.

“With President Trump signing the PACT Act, animal cruelty is no longer just unacceptable, it is now illegal,” said Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla. “We can now finally say that animal abuse is a federal crime in the United States. Americans have long stood in support of animal welfare protections, and now our national laws reflect these values. This bipartisan achievement has been years in the making, and I am proud to have been a part of this great effort alongside Congressman Buchanan and so many advocates and passionate citizens who made this possible.”

According to the Humane Society, cruelty and neglect constitute abuse, which exists throughout the social and economic classes and is common in both rural and urban areas.

The people who intentionally abuse animals are predominantly men under age 30, while those who are involved in animal hoarding are most likely to be women over the age of 60.

On its 2011 census, Pet-abuse.com has reported 1,423 U.S. cruelty cases. Based off this information of reported incidents, dogs were the leading animal being abused. The census involved other animals, such as horses, pigs, birds and cats. Some of the occurrences are due to common neglect, while others are more undeniably horrifying.

Ample research backs up the finding that there is a direct link between acts of cruelty to animals and violence toward humans. This includes child abuse, domestic violence, elder abuse and other violent behavior. A

See ANIMAL CRUELTY page 8

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The appointment of the mayor Pro-Tem county’s largest municipality, and Uglum is was the next order of business. The council now council member for Ward 4. With Brett voted unanimously to appoint Watters to the Ledbetter having been elected and sworn in position.

Former councilmember Met Lane was last November to fill the Ward 2 seat vacated

by Rory Wojcik, that made three fresh faces honored with a plaque for his time, work, for the council. Ward 3 Council Member Jim and service for the city (2016-19). Former Watters was re-elected for his third (four mayor Walt Hollingsworth was also presented with a plaque honoring his time on year) term. He was the council (2016sworn in by Probate Byrd stated: “I would like to take 19). The mayor and Judge Edie Haney this moment to announce my council honored during the early porthree Carrollton fireresignation as West Carrollton tion of the meeting.

Ward 1 Council City Councilman. Thank you. . . fighters with the ‘Life Saver Hero Member Gerald I started this journey after a Aw a r d ’ : Jared Byrd would have visitation from The Holy Spirit, McKenzie, Chad begun year three of a four-year term and and I end it trusting and believing Thigpen, and Jimmy Appleby.

In I have a higher calling to his fifth full term.

November, the three Byrd stated: “I would reach a broader audience!” saved the life of a like to take this moment to announce my resignation as West three-year-old girl who was choking and Carrollton City Councilman. Thank you to who was within “seconds of death.” .

At the swearing-in ceremony held the everyone who voted for me and supported me for nearly two decades. I started this prior Thursday (see photo front page and journey after a visitation from The Holy this page) for Cason and Uglum, City Spirit, and I end it trusting and believing I Manager Tim Grizzard remarked that he was have a higher calling to reach a broader audi- “very excited” about the state of Carrollton.

“It is a great time to be a part of the city,” ence! I wish the best for the people of Carrollton and please continue to help those Girzzard said to the crowd, “With this mayor less fortunate! Be well!” Byrd has held the and city council, we have a great team.”

Grizzard told StarNews that the “big propost consistently since 2001, and his current term was set to expire on December 31, jects” for the coming year will include work on storm water and using SPLOST funds to 2021.

Mayor Cason then read a proclamation build a new fire station to replace the one on honoring surviving principal, Dr. Charles E. Central High Road. Also at the swearing-in Wilson, and other former staff and students ceremony, Bob Uglum told StarNews that he of the segregated George Washington Carver was “very excited” about the opportunity to High School. The school, which was represent his city, and that he is actively founded in 1955 and located on Alabama learning details about the operations of the Street in Carrollton, later became a part of city’s varied epartments.

StarNews January 12, 2020

Page 7

NEW MAYOR CARROLLTON from front page

PIC judge swearing in Bob Uglum

Shown above is newly elected Carrollton City Council member Bob Uglum as he is sworn in by Judge Lee Smith at a ceremony held at the Carrollton Cultural Arts Center downtown Carrollton Thursday, January 2, 2020. Uglum is accompanied on stage by his wife Pam. Uglum, along with newly elected Mayor Betty Cason, were sworn in ahead of the Monday, January 6th regular city council meeting.

Approximately 150 attended the “Swearing-In Ceremony”, a catered public event. After a brief welcome and introductions by City Manager Tim Grizzard, Reverend Dr. Vincent Dortch of Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, Carrollton, provided prayer. Photo by Sue Horn

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StarNews

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West Georgia Ambulance agrees to pay $65,000 to settle noncompliance allegations Loss of a laptop in 2013

Qualifying to be held March 2-6, 2020

for the following elected positions:

from press release West Georgia Ambulance, Inc. has agreed to pay $65,000 to the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and to adopt a corrective action plan to settle potential violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Security Rule.

West Georgia is an ambulance company that provides emergency and non-emergency ambulance services in Carroll County, Georgia.

OCR began its investigation after West Georgia Ambulance filed a breach report in 2013 concerning the loss of an unencrypted laptop containing the protected health

information (PHI) of 500 individuals.

OCR’s investigation uncovered noncompliance with the HIPAA Rules, including failures to conduct a risk analysis, provide a security awareness and training program, and implement HIPAA Security Rule policies and procedures.

In addition to the monetary settlement, West Georgia will undertake a corrective action plan that includes two years of monitoring.

The resolution agreement and corrective action plan may be found at https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/forprofessionals/complianceenforcement/agreements/westgeorgia/index. html.

ANIMAL CRUELTY from page 6

were threatened, harmed, or killed by their abusive partner.

Research also shows that domestic violence toward pets both correlates with domestic violence toward humans, and is also a tool of domestic abuse - violent members of the household will threaten to hurt or actually hurt a companion animal as a method of control and a form of emotional violence. More than half of women in domestic violence situations report that they delayed their escape out of fear for their animals. By bringing charges against perpetrators of animal cruelty, the new law not only helps animals from being abused but it may be able to prevent individuals with a propensity for harming people from acting on those impulses.

To help an animal you may have witnessed being abused or severe neglect in Carroll County, depending on how severe.. you can report it to Carroll County Animal Control office at (770)834-8150 or if the abuse is so severe you fear for the animals life, call the police.

landmark 1997 study by the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Northeastern University found that animal abusers are in fact five times as likely to also harm other humans.

Another study, published in 2013, found 43% of those who commit school massacres also committed acts of cruelty to animals generally against dogs and cats. Phil Arkow, coordinator of the National Link Coalition a group focusing on the intersection between violence toward animals and humans - has written often about animal abuse being an indication of domestic violence, or what’s called a “predictor crime.”

If a child is cruel to animals, research shows it may be a sign that serious abuse or neglect has been inflicted on the child.

Children who witness animal abuse are at greater risk of becoming abusers themselves.

A 2017 study showed that 89% of women who had companion animals during an abusive relationship reported that their animals

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UGA’s Terry College of Business predicts Georgia’s economy will grow slowly at a rate of about a 1.0% compared with a 1.2% rate for U.S gross domestic product

Page 9

“Consumers will be the guiding light of the 2020 economy”: Consumer spending will increase from press release by David Dodson UGA Terry College of Business Georgia’s economic growth is forecast to slow substantially in 2020, but not to a complete stop, according to the latest projections from the University of Georgia Terry College of Business. The state will grow at a slower rate than the U.S. economy – 1% compared with 1.2% estimated for U.S. gross domestic product in 2020 – and create

less than one-third of the new jobs that were added in 2019, said Dean Benjamin C. Ayers at UGA’s 37th annual Georgia Economic Outlook in Atlanta. “Georgia’s prospects for growth reflect the strength of the consumer, more homebuilding, a pipeline full of economic development projects, and the Federal Reserve reversing course and cutting interest rates,” Ayers said.

Ayers delivered the annual forecast Dec.

City school system’s kindergarten/pre-k registration: lottery ticket required to be in drawing for a slot Lottery tickets will be issued March 2-6 and families notified March 11-13 from press release Carrollton Elementary School kindergarten registration process for the 2020-2021 school year is now under way. Students must be 5 years old by Sept. 1, 2020, in order to register for kindergarten: 770-832-2120 to make an appointment, which is required.

Documents required for kindergarten registration include: A copy of the child’s birth certificate; current Georgia immunization form 3231; vision, hearing, dental and nutrition form 3300; the child’s Social Security card; parent photo identification; and proof of residency. Acceptable items to prove residency include current water, gas and electric bills and original lease agreements. Utility bills or lease agreements must be in the parents’ or legal guardians’ names and include the physical address.

Students who do not live in the Carrollton city limits also are eligible to register. Non-

residents go through an application process at registration and are required to pay a tuition fee as follows: $200 for one child, $350 for two children, and $450 for three or more children if accepted. Please complete the application posted on the school’s website (www.carrolltoncityschools.net) before attending your appointment.

Potential Pre-K students must be 4 years old by Sept. 1. These families must obtain a lottery ticket in order to be eligible for the Pre-K lottery drawing. Parents/guardians must bring proof of residency, the child’s birth certificate and Social Security card, and parent/guardian photo ID to obtain a ticket.

Lottery tickets will be issued March 2-6 and families notified March 11-13 of acceptance status. Pre-kindergarten registration will be held March 16-20.

For further information on registration procedures, call 770-832-2120.

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11 to an audience of about 600 business leaders, government officials and chamber delegates. The forecast is based on the Georgia Economic Outlook report, produced

by UGA’s Selig Center for Economic Growth. The complete forecast is available for purchase at terry.uga.edu/about/selig/.

Consumers will be the guiding light of the 2020 economy, buoyed by modest wage growth, available credit and rising home values, Ayers said. “Consumer spending will increase because labor market conditions are good,” Ayers said. “As long as job creation remains positive, the economy will operate close to full employment. Credit is inexpensive, and household finances are in very good shape. Many homeowners have locked in historically low mortgage rates.”

Home sales will likewise benefit. “Appreciating home values will give people the confidence to buy homes,” he added. “In the third quarter, Georgia’s existing home prices were 20 percent higher than their pre-recession peak. Another factor that will encourage people to buy homes is that rent affordability is at an all-time low.”

But further escalation of trade tensions with the United States’ major partners will end the decade-long economic expansion, according to the forecast. “Georgia is the nation’s 11th largest export state and seventh largest import state,” Ayers said. “A quick and decisive de-escalation of the trade war would substantially reduce the risk of a 2020 recession,” he added. “Nevertheless, there is a point where de-escalation comes too late to

stave off a recession. We are close to that point.”

The other concerns topping the Selig Center’s recession risk list are a stock market correction or policy mistake by the Federal Reserve, a leveraged loan meltdown, or geopolitical hot spot that boils over – from Saudi Arabia and Iran to Brexit.

Georgia’s nonfarm employment will increase 0.5% in 2020, or about 21,000 new jobs statewide, but that’s less than one-third of the 69,000 jobs Georgia is on pace to add in 2019. The state’s unemployment rate for 2020 is forecast to be 4.2%, climbing about half a percentage point higher than the 3.7% rate estimated for all of 2019.

FUNDRAISER from front page

Evette Bridges, library director, to determine what is needed. Friends of Villa Rica Library held their first meeting in August 2017. The name was changed to Friends of the New Villa Rica Library on May 16, 2019. The first Book Sale was held October 19 and 20, 2018 and netted $450. Books were donated by members of the club and library patrons.

“Not much is going on in January, so we thought this would be a good time to have this event,” stated Sandrene. “We can raise money and provide some winter entertainment for the community.”

For tickets or for anyone interested in becoming a part of Friends of the New Villa Rica Library may call John Sandrene at 770462-1011 or Evette Bridges at 770-4597012.

Carroll EMC

Page 10 January 12, 2020

StarNews

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2019 YEAR IN REVIEW top stories

The following is a recap of 2019’s top wear body cams while working in schools.

All officers at Temple PD wear body cams, Carroll County related stories: and have for three years. All officers workJANUARY 2019 Commission formally requests legislature ing for the city of Carrollton wear body to break Carroll County off from the five cams while on duty.

New probate judge appointed to fill county circuit to form a smaller circuit The Carroll County Board of position vacated by Betty Cason Local attorney Edie Haney was appointed Commissioners started off 2019 with their Carroll County Probate Judge in January January 8, 2019 meeting. All commissioners were present, as was the chairman Marty after the resignation of former judge Betty Smith. District Commissioner Georgia Cason. Cason later announced plans to run Chambers was named Vice Chair. One issue for Carrollton mayor, a race which she won which took precedence was an agenda item in November. Haney took office on Jan. 2, which would pass a resolution to formally 2019.

FEBRUARY 2019 request members of the Georgia Legislature Two candidates vie to fill unexpired term to conduct a feasibility study for pulling Carrol County out of the current five-county for Villa Rica City Council Ward 2 judicial circuit (Carroll, Heard, Coweta, Matthew Montahan and Cheryl Bell both Troup, and Meriwether) to create a new, announced their candidacy to fill the Villa smaller circuit. Both Circuit D.A. John Rica Ward 2 recently vacated by Verland Herbert “Herb” Cranford, Jr. and Carroll Best. A special election was held on March County Sheriff Terry Langley expressed they 19th, and Montahan was declared the believed that to be in the best interest of all winner.

MARCH 2019 involved. A smaller circuit would mean more assistant district attorney availability Commission Chair Marty Smith resigns and less cases. The resolution unanimously With the resignation of Commission passed. The feasibility study was later Chairman Marty Smith mid-term (term was carred out and completed with conclusion to expire Dec. 31, 2020), the race for chairagainst splitting the five county circuit. man opened up.

Local law enforcement use of body Paper voting ballots to return cameras increasing: not widespread yet Legislation to replace Georgia’s electronic In October of 2018, the BOC gave the voting machines with a touchscreen-andVilla Rica Police Department $57,674 for paper ballot election system has won final the purchase of body cameras and additional approval from state lawmakerswith Ouse equipment used to operate them. The cam- Bill 316. The Georgia House voted 101-69, eras fit on officers’ chest areas and lower or mostly along party lines. raise according to an officer’s height. The The Republican majority’s decision to go funds, along with some acquired through with voting machines and printed ballots drug busts, allowed VR PD to purchase 12 comes in time for the system to be in place body cams. Carroll County deputies only for next year’s presidential election, when

the state’s 7 million registered voters will be eligible to cast their ballots.

New school bus law New school bus law in effect: drivers now need to stop for bus traveling in opposite direction. Governor Brian Kemp signed into law a bill the Georgia General Assembly unanimously approved to reverse last year’s law change that stated drivers did not need to stop if they were meeting a school bus traveling in the opposite direction.

Southeastrans plans to locate headquarters in City of Villa Rica Southeastrans, Inc., announced in March it will invest $20 million into Carroll County. Over the next two years, the company will construct an 88,000 square foot corporate headquarters in the city of Villa Rica which will employ a staff of approximately 300 employees.

Groudnbreaking was held later in the year.

APRIL 2019

Secreatary of State releases request for statewide voting system proposals to include paper trail Secretary of State released a request for statewide voting system proposals Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has released a request for proposals for a new statewide voting system.

Governor Brian Kemp’s fiscal 2020 state budget proposal set aside $150 million to replace Georgia’s current touch-screen voting system with a system that features paper backups to electronic ballots.

Georgia’s current generation of electronic voting machines, launched in 2002, have no paper backups.

Bids from vendors interested in providing the new machines are due April 23.

County ommission board approves $716,508 purchase with no bids On April 2, 2019, the Carroll County Board of Commission approved a $716,508 purchase using ‘Sourcewell”, a “service cooperative”, instead of taking bids for four (4) $179,127 John Deer mowers to be purchased from the Dothan, Alabama company SunSouth. According to the county attorney, the board utilized Georgia law OCGA § 3669A-2 “Interlocal Cooperation Act” to make the purchase instead of an open bidding process. The vote was 5-1 to approve, with the one vote against cast by Interim Chairman George Chambers.

During public comments prior to the vote, local owners of Carroll County tractor dealerships spoke out against not having had the opportunity to bid on this major purchase that uses taxpayer (SPLOST) monies. Those speaking included CarrollCounty business owners Roger Harrod, owner of Georgia Deer Farm, a Massey-Ferguson dealership; Sam Duke, co-owner of Agrimerica, a New Holland dealership; and citizens Larry Cohrs and Joshua Hollingsworth.

Hollingsworth of Carrollton told the commissioners, “Everyone should have a fair chance.”

Sam Duke came to the meeting prepared to present an offer showing a cost at $160,000 less, stating, “You can get this exact same equipment, spec for spec, pound for pound, and I’ve got everything to provide for you all to see that…for $160,000 less... This is taxpayers’ money. You’re going to spend an extra $160,000 that doesn’t need to be spent. This needs to go out for bid to other manufacturers.”

See YEAR IN REVIEW page 11

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2019 YEAR IN REVIEW top stories MAY 2019

federal grand jury of stealing more than $2 million from his former employer.

The 38-count indictment charges Beck with fraud and money laundering. An exinsurance lobbyist and long-time leader of the Georgia Christian Coalition, Beck allegedly paid personal credit card bills and taxes with stolen money. Furthermore, the allegations claim he used the money to help fund his 2018 campaign which won him his term in office.

The crimes allegedly took place between February 2013 and August 2018 and the state prosecutor said the allegations do not relate to Beck’s current position. At the time of the alleged crimes, Beck was the general manager of operations for Georgia Underwriting Association.

Beck is being represented by William “Bill” Thomas, a former federal prosecutor.

Special Election was held June 18th for commission chair and two district seats A special election was held Tuesday, June 18th for chair and two district commission seats. The seat of commissioner chair was vacated by Marty Smith. Five candidates competed for the position: Vicki Anderson, Michelle Morgan, Lee Powers, Daniel Phagan, and John Wilson. Morgan and Wilson ended up in a run-off in July. Morgan won by a razor-thin margin of 213 votes.

The districts 4 and 5 seats were open due to by Morgan and Powers resigning to run for chairman. Four candidates ran for the District 4 seat: John Bryan, Steve Fuller, JUNE 2019 Alan “Gump” Griffith, and Mark Sullivan.

Carroll County resident and State Steve Fuller won the seat.

Insurance Commissioner Jim Beck Four candidates also qualified to run for indicted by federal grand jury: 38 counts Georgia Insurance Commissioner Jim District 5: Carl Lloyd, Jr. from Carrollton, Beck of Carroll County, was indicted by a Ronnie Pate from Whitesburg, Ernest Five seek office of commission chairman: four are past district commissioners Five candidates qualified for the commission chairman seat vacated by former chairman Marty Smith (mid-March). Four candidates are former commissioners John Wilson, Vicki Anderson, Michelle Morgan, and Lee Powers. The fifth candidate who qualified was retired businessman Daniel Phagan. A special election will be held Tuesday, June 18th. A runoff - if necessary will be held Tuesday, July 16th.

Governor Kemp signs new law giving voters return to paper trail Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed an elections bill authorizing the statewide purchase of new touchscreen voting machines that print a paper ballot. He signed the bill behind closed doors and without prior announcement on the final day of Georgia’s 2019 legislative session. Georgia would become the first state to make that the primary voting method statewide. Election officials hope to have some new machines in place in time for testing during municipal elections in November 2019.

The estimated $150 million purchase will replace the state’s current voting machines, which offer no paper trail. Bond funding, or borrowing, totaling $150 million was included in the 2020 budget, and lawmakers say that should cover the initial purchase of machines as well as rollout and training.

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“Ernie” Reynolds from Carrollton, and Jay Williford from Whitesburg. Reynolds and Williford went into a runoff with Reynolds won the seat.

Carrollton City council member Gerald Bryd “heartbroken” that an “affordable housing development failed” Carrollton City council member Gerald Byrd stated he was “heartbroken” that an “affordable housing development failed”.

Carrollton City council denied a rezoning request for 20.13 acres on Maple View Drive located on northwest part of Maple Street Commons. The plan was to construct a 75house subdivision, which could only be done by changing the zoning status from ‘estate residential’ to ‘residential planned.’ It was stated that the original site plan proposed 86 single-family residential lots with amenities such as a swimming pool, volleyball and basketball courts, a recreation area and a clubhouse.

Local Metro West realtor Dwayne Hicks spoke at the meeting, sighting a “significant housing shortage.” He asked the council to approve the request. “If you talk to the average realtor working with buyers, they are struggling to find inventory,” Hicks said. “I think we’re almost able to use the word ‘crisis’, and there are families who are creating basement apartments and places for their kids to live to keep them off the streets and out of areas that are not so desirable. We need this housing at this price point. I’m wondering what it’s going to take to get something going.”

JULY 2019

5 year old mostly self-taught math whiz enjoys solving algebraic problems Five-year-old Jonas Pascal, Carrollton, is

StarNews

January 12, 2020 Page 11

an ordinary kid…for the most part. When he’s not playing games, watching videos, or spending time with friends, Jonas enjoys algebra. Yes, algebra. Jonas, the son of Jonathan and Georgia Pascal of Carrollton, began showing exceptional abilities with numbers early in his life. His mom said he began doing the ‘easy stuff’ when he was three and the ‘harder stuff’ when he was four.

Jonas’ dad recalled the origin of his son’s interest in numbers. “He started memorizing people’s birthdays - that’s where the math thing really started,” said Jonathan. “He had a fascination with the numbers. He wouldn’t see somebody for a long time, but he would still remember their birthday. He also started memorizing phone numbers.”

Memorization, Jonathan said, was initially what the family thought was at the core of Jonas’ talent. They soon realized he could also solve problems involving numbers.

Jonas has also been reading since he was two. Jonas recently completed the Pre-K program at the University of West Georgia and is heading to Carrollton Elementary School in the fall.

Governor Kemp appoints first Hispanic insurance commissioner to fill seat vacated by indicted Jim Beck Governor Brian P. Kemp made history today by appointing Doraville Police Chief and Brigadier General John King to serve as Georgia’s Insurance Commissioner and Safety Fire Commissioner. King, a native of Nexico, is the first Hispanic Insurance Commissioner and statewide constitutional officer. The position was vacated by Jim Beck who had been indicted in June.

See YEAR IN REVIEW page 12

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Page 12 January 12, 2020

StarNews

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2019 YEAR IN REVIEW top stories JULY 2019 continued from page 11

Special Election Run-Off held July 16th On July 16, past commissioners Michelle Morgan and John Wilson were in a run-off for the commission chair seat; Steve Fuller and Mark Sullivan were in a race for the District 4 seat; and Ernest “Ernie” Reynolds and Jay Williford are vying for the District 5 seat.

Morgan won the race for chairman, Fuller won the District 4 seat, and Reynolds won the District 5 seat.

Dominion Voting Systems chosen to implement new verified paper ballot voting for the State of Georgia After a competitive selection process, the Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger selects Dominion Voting Systems to implement its new verified paper ballot system.

Implementation of the new secure voting system will start immediately and be in place and fully operational for the March 24, 2020 Presidential Preference Primary.

“Elections security is my top priority,” said Raffensperger. “We look forward to working with national and local elections security experts to institute best practices and continue to safeguard all aspects of physical and cyber-security in an everchanging threat environment.”

The Georgia Secretary of State’s office has already partnered with the Department of Homeland Security and private cybersecurity companies to provide network monitoring, cyber-hygiene scanning, and cyber-security assessments.

Many Georgia counties have also partnered with DHS to provide physical security assessments of their election offices.

Past commission chairman offers insight to new job at the state On Friday, July 26, former Carroll County Commission Chairman Marty Smith spoke at the Carrollton Kiwanis Club’s regular meeting located in the Z-6 Building on the University of West Georgia campus. As guest speaker, he described his new position with the state of Georgia: State Property Officer.

“Y’all want me to describe what I’m doing? I’m still trying to figure out what I’m doing. Do not relay that to the governor’s office,” Smith joked.

Smith is in charge of directing the construction and management of the state’s properties. He is the executive director of the Georgia Building Authority and State Properties Commission, and the director of the Georgia Financing and Investment Commission, Construction Division. His responsibilities included management of the state’s capital assets, including the state’s real property assets; management of buildings on Capitol Hill; and project management on state construction projects. He is responsible for the acquisition and disposition of all state-owned real property and all real property interests. Furthermore, he provides leasing assistance to state entities.

Within his first year, Smith said he wants to bring all three divisions “under one roof” in an effort to make operations “as efficient as possible.”

The Georgia Building Authority handles a variety of maintenance work from landscaping to renovations of state agency buildings like the Department of Family and Children Services(DFCS) and the Department of

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Revenue. The State Properties Commission handles the leasing, selling and acquisitions of state properties. The Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission is involved in financing projects like a new Richards College of Business at the University of West Georgia and a new West Georgia Technical College campus.

As essentially the overseer of three entities, Smith is in charge of a budget of “right at $50 Million.”

“It’s about $38 Million for GBA, $2.2 Million for SPC, and $18 Million for GSFIC,” Smith said.

“It’s almost the same budget as we had here in Carroll County, but it’s about 275 employees verses 600 here.”

AUGUST 2019

Qualifying was held for mayoral and council seats for the General Municipal Election Tuesday, November 5th Qualifying will be held August 19-23, 2019 for local mayoral and council seats.

The General Municipal Election will be held Tuesday, November 5, 2019. Open seats are listed below: City of Bowdon Mayor: Qualifying Fee $50.40 City Council seats 2 and 3: Qualifying Fee $43.20 City of Carrollton Mayor: Qualifying Fee $180.00, City Council seats 3 and 4: Qualifying Fee $108.00 Carrollton City School System School Board seats 1, 4 and At Large: Qualifying Fee $126.00 City of Mount Zion Mayor: Qualifying Fee $ $108.00 City Council seats: 1 and 2:

Qualifying Fee $54.00 City of Roopville Mayor: Qualifying Fee $5.00 City Council seats 1, 2, 3, 4: Qualifying Fee $5.00 City of Temple City Council seat 3, 4, 5: Qualifying Fee $72.00 City of Villa Rica Mayor: Qualifying Fee $90.00 City Council seats 1, 2: Qualifying Fee $72.00

Tanner Health Systems launched new health record electronic link for its fivehospitals and 40-plus clinics Tanner launched a new electronic health record (EHR) platformin in the summer of 2019, which, by the end of 2019, will link all its hospitals, clinics and healthcare providers. The rollout began in the 40+ Tanner Medical Group outpatient clinics and urgent care facilities throughout the region. In November, the five hospitals will be brought online to complete the transformation.

Tanner partnered with Verona, Wisconsinbased Epic Systems Corporation on its new EHR throughout the organization’s hospitals and Tanner Medical Group practices.

The Epic Systems platform is based on the “one patient, one record” concept: a single, secure record to document diagnoses, treatments, medical histories and more for each patient. In addition, Epic offers the MyChart patient application, enabling patients to use their internet-connected devices - tablets, phones and computers - to access their personal health information, schedule or change appointments, get test results, request prescription refills and more.

See YEAR IN REVIEW page 14

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2019 YEAR IN REVIEW top stories SEPTEMBER 2019

West Georgia Technical College raises $61,000 at annual “Black Tie & Boots” West Georgia Technical College had another record breaking year at its annual fundraiser, Black Tie & Boots. The WGTC Foundation raised $61,000 for scholarships and general student support at the 18th annual event with over 40 event partners participating.

Country music superstar Craig Morgan performed in front of a sold-out crowd at the West Georgia Technical College’s Murphy Campus Conference Center in Waco. The Foundation also used the event to present its annual Spirit of Giving award to the Rotary Club of Carrollton Dawnbreakers for its years of steadfast support to adult education and its recently endowed student scholarship fund.

Kelsey A. Jones, Executive Director of WGTC Foundation said, “In 2019, the WGTC Foundation chose to recognize the Carrollton Dawnbreakers Rotary Club for years of outstanding support for the adult education program and student scholarships at West Georgia Technical College. Most recently, the Dawnbreakers established a $25,000 endowment that will serve Carroll County WGTC students for years to come.”

Carrollton City Council announced tax increase of 6.8% The City of Carrollton Mayor and Council announced an increase in the 2019 property taxes it will levy by 6.38 percent over the rollback millage rate. Each year the board of tax assessors is required to review the assessed value for property tax purposes of taxable property in the county. When the

trend of prices on properties that have recently sold in the county indicate there has been an increase in the fair market value of any specific property, the board of tax assessors is required by law to re-determine the value of such property and adjust the assessment. This is called reassessment. When the total digest of taxable property is prepared, Georgia law requires that a rollback ratemust be computed that will produce the same total revenue on the current year’s digest that last year’s millage rate would have produced had no reassessments occurred. The budget adopted by the Mayor and Council requires a millage rate higher than the rollback millage rate. Carrollton City Manager Jim Triplett said he had originally forecast property tax revenue toremain at a level of $3,856,000, but because of the increased revenue from property taxes, the city will have a gross tax levy of $4,463,557.

By maintaining the millage rate, the city will collect more revenue than it would if it goes with the lower rate that is determined by the county’s tax office, according to the tax digest. In other words, although the millage rate will not change, property owners will pay more out of pocket.

City school system serves record number of meals in need over the summer: 29,527 City school system’s summer meal program served record number of meals over the summer. Laura Malmquist, director of School Nutrition, Carrollton City Schools, said meals distributed by school staff and Action Ministries, a long-time partner, provided an increase of 7,970 over breakfasts and lunches distributed in summer 2018.

The goal of the program, which is an

extension of the United States Department of Agriculture’s National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs, is to do as much as possible to increase participation so that more children are fed daily.

Villa Rica Council votes 200% raise for council members, 217% raise for mayor The Villa Rica City Council’s August 13, 2019 meeting centered on finances, concluded with the vote by council (mayor is a non-voting member) to raise the mayor’s pay by 217% and council members pay by 200%. It was the last item on the agenda, a recommendation by City Manager Tom Barber for these pay increases. “We are woefully below other cities of similar size,” stated Barber. Barber suggested $1200 per month for the mayor and $750 per month for council members. He did point out that council could consider and approve less than these amounts, but not more.

Currently, the mayor receives $250 for the first meeting of the month and $50 for each meeting thereafter. Council members make $200 for the first meeting of the month and $50 for eachmeeting thereafter. Since the city has two regularly scheduled meetings per month, the mayor is paid $300 per month, while council members receive $250 per month minimum. The population of Villa Rica is 15,849. The annual family income is $37,138, with 11.4% of families below the poverty level.

Overall this will be a $56,400 increase in costs to city of Villa Rica taxpayers.

The motion was seconded by Council Member Shirley Marchman. Council Members Danny Carter, Gil McDougal, and Shirley Marchman voted to increase the pay

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of mayor and council, beginning January 1, 2020. Council Member Matthew Momtahan abstained, and Council Member Leslie McPherson was not in attendance.

McDougal later resigned from council to run for mayor and won. He took office the first week of January 2020.

OCTOBER 2019

Carroll County in drought level D0-D2 Carroll County was declared in a drought level D0-D2: “Abnormally Dry” to “Severe”. Over the summer of 2019 and into the fall, Carroll County experienced intense heat and dry conditions this summer. With record setting temperatures showing prominence and below average rainfall as the new normal, drought conditions were called. As of late September, the entire state of Georgia, with the exceptions of small parts of Seminole and Early counties, was in a drought at some level.

When an area is considered D0, topsoil moisture decreases; planting is delayed; and fire risk is elevated. At the D1 level, crops are vulnerable; soil moisture is low; gardens and lawns require more water; stream and pond levels are lower; and water temperatures increase.

At D2, crops are stressed; hay yield is low; producers feed cattle early; planting is delayed; soil is hard; conditions are dustier than usual; drought mitigation and water conservation education become necessary; small streams dry up; and rivers are very low.

Rain picked up in November, and by midDecember, the drought ended for Carroll County.

See YEAR IN REVIEW page 15

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January 12, 2020 Page 15

2019 YEAR IN REVIEW top stories OCTOBER 2019 continued from 14

New voting machines arrive in Carroll County - a test site for the paper system New voting machines with paper and photographic trails arrived in Carroll County in October for the Nov. 5th municipal elections. Carroll County voters used the new Dominion Voting touch screen machines in the November 5th Municipal Elections.

Carroll County is one of a few counties in Georgia to test the new paper trail voting machines. For the past 17 years, Georgia vote counters relied on an electronic count only. The new touch screens have a printer attached that will produce a paper confirmation which the voter will have the option to accept or reject. The accepted confirmation will then be inserted into a scanning tabulator. The new system also allows for a photographic record of each ballot.

2015: SPLOST collections: new administration building not yet begun In November 2013, (six years ago) Carroll County voters approved a $96M SPLOST that included “acquiring, constructing, and equipping a County Administration Building and parking associated therewith”. Collections began April 1, 2015 -with a stop collection date of March 31, 2021- for the county’s portion of that SPLOST of $59,894,400. Four years since collections began, and six years after voters approved, the ad-min building project has not yet begun.

In mid-September, Chairman Michelle Morgan hired an analyst to “ascertain Administration Office needs” and to “summarize the results to help formulate decisions concerning potential chnges to the current facility; move to another building; or a build-to-suit Administration Office.” The chairman hired Robbie Blackmon of Aurora Advisory Services, a local business, for a 30 day job for the fee of $3,450.

Carroll County’s portion of 2015 SPLOST is $59.8M with $45M already collected, $40M has been spent until March 2021.$14-$15M more is projected to be collected.

Early voting began Oct. 14th for Nov. 5th elections Short recap of Nov. 5th elections: Two square off for Carrollton mayor: Incumbent Walt Hollingsworth and former probate judge Betty Cason: Cason won Three in the race for Villa Rica mayor: Dominique Conteh, Michael Day, and past councilman Gil McDougal: McDougal won City of Bowdon mayor seat: Incumbent Jim Chaffin and newcomer Logan Jackson: Chaffin won Southwire hosted annual “Business Luncheon” for area leaders Carrollton-based Southwire Company held its annual ‘Business Update’ luncheon Thursday, October 3, 2019 at ‘The Depot on Bradley’, (renovated historic train depot) Bradley Street, Carrollton. Rich Stinson, Southwire president and CEO, spoke of the company’s growth, community impact, and innovations to a full house of area leaders.

Southwire launched an inclusivity initiative called FUSE in 2017. The launch highlighted several Employee Resource Groups (ERGs): Women’s Network; NEXTgen; Spectrum; TEAM; an LGBT group called ALLiED; and OFFiCIUM, a group to serve military veterans.

One of the world’s largest producers of wire and cable, Southwire has a workforce of nearly 8,000 employees in 34 plants and

10 CSCs. The company’s roots extend to 1937 when Roy Richards, a recent graduate of Georgia Tech, started a company to erect power poles. On March 23, 1950, Richards founded Southwire with three used machines and a workforce of 12 employees Last year, the company saw $6.1 billion in revenue and has facilities all over the United States, Canada, China, Honduras, England, and the Netherlands.

“The company is continually getting stronger,” Stinson said. “We continue to grow, and our strategies are now becoming realities. Our profitability continues to grow, and our second quarter results are the best the company’s ever had.”

Half of the world’s copper rod passes through a Southwire SCR (continuous rod) system, and the company produces half of the wire and cable used to transmit and distribute electricity in the U.S. Furthermore, half of American homes contain electrical wiring produced by Southwire.

Forbes Magazine named Southwire one of “America’s Best Employers.” The company ranked number 114 of the 500 top businesses. Last year, the company ranked at 297. “We’re proud that we’re being recognized as one of America’s best employers,” Stinson said. “When I get up here next year I hope I can say we broke the 100 mark, and we’ll continue to work on that.”

The company’s ‘5 Key Areas of Focus’ for 2019 and beyond are: Moving the Mix; Southwire Speed; Modernization; Lean Culture; Tools, Components, and Assembled Solutions.

NOVEMBER 2019

Tanner Health Systems moves ahead with plans to establish open-heart surgery program in Carrollton Tanner Health System moved ahead with its plans to establish an open-heart surgery program in Carrollton. With open-heart surgery, residents will be able to receive services - like coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery - without having to travel out of the area. More than 200,000 CABG procedures are performed nationally each year.

“Building a comprehensive heart care program has been our goal for many years, and we’ve worked steadily toward it,” said Loy Howard, president and CEO of Tanner Health System. “Heart disease is the leading cause of death in our region, and as a community healthcare organization, it’s our role to offer the services our neighbors need to have the best chance of surviving the disease.”

The health system earned state approval to expand its cardiac services, overcoming objections from other regional hospitals.

Recycling changes at county convenience centers: no more glass recycling; plastics limited to two sites Beginning Monday, November 11, 2019, there will be two major changes to recycling at the county’s convenience centers. One change limits plastics recycling; the other change eliminates glass recycling.

Two convenience center sites, the ne at Newnan Road and the one at Dyer Road, will be the only two sites where water bottles, soda bottles, and milk jugs can be recycled. These plastics are identified with a number 1 or number 2 inside of the recycling symbol. Glass recycling will no longer accepted at any of the ten convenience centers as of November 11th.

No changes were announced concerning

recycling of aluminum, tin, cardboard, or paper. All will continue to be collected at all ten county’s convenience centers.

The value of many recyclables worldwide has decreased as the levels of contamination have increased. In addition, the cost of transporting recyclables has increased due to

higher fuel and insurance costs. The above changes came as out of discussions amoung Keep Carroll Beautiful, the county commission chairman, county public works director, and SLM Recycling, the contractor for the county’s convenience centers.

See YEAR IN REVIEW page 16

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2019 YEAR IN REVIEW top stories NOVEMBER 2019 continued from 15

Missing in action for 75 years, Army Private First Class Hulett Thompson is identified and remains returned home Missing in action for 75 years, Army Private First Class Hulett Thompson finally identified as having been killed in action.

His remains were buried with family in the Clem Community cemetery.

Thompson had been listed as Missing In Action (MIA) since World War II, but will now be added to the Killed in Action Wall (KIA) at the Carroll County Veterans Memorial Park, Carrollton. Hulett A. Thompson of Carrollton served as an infantryman assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 5307th Combat Unit, also known as Task Force Galahad, or Merrill’s Marauders, in the China-Burma-India region during WWII. In June 1944, PFC Thompson’s unit fought trying to take Myitkyina, Burma. The siege of Myitkyina was an engagement during the Burma Campaign of World War II. The of the seize of Myitkyina was an allied victory and was part of a much larger operation of North Burma and Yunnan. It was during this battle he was reportedly killed in action. His remains could not be located so they were not recovered following the battle.

In January 1948, PFC Thompson’s remains were declared non-recoverable.

According to the DPAA, the remains of some servicemen killed during the battle were buried in at least five temporary cemeteries plus numerous isolated burial locations over the years. In January and February 1946, all of the remains at the U.S. Military Cemetery were disinterred and moved to the U.S. Military Cemetery at Kalaikunda, India. The exhumation of the U.S. Military Cemetery at Kalaikunda was conducted in September and October 1947.

One set of remains, designated “Unknown X-386, Kalaikunda” at the time, were disinterred and transferred to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu (known as the Punchbowl) in June 1949.

These remains were again disinterred in July 16, 2018.

Scientists from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) were able to identify the remains as those of PFC Thompson. This detective work was done through dental records, anthropological analysis, and circumstantial evidence. The Armed Forces Medical Examiner was also assisted by using a system called mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced on May 31, 2019 that they were indeed able to confirm these remains were PFC Thompson of Carroll County, Georgia.

Private First Class Hulett A. Thompson, previously listed as Missing In Action, will now be listed as Killed In Action. The Carroll County Veterans Memorial Park will be adding his name to the Killed In Action Wall and adding a Memorial Plaque for him.

Post 143 Honor Guard has offered full support to the family during his funeral proceedings on November 30, 2019.

The Carroll County Veterans Memorial Park Association celebrates 20 years of remembering and honorong local veterans past and present The Carroll County Veterans Memorial Park Association was formed in 1999 with the help of Nellie and Henry Duke, American Legions 143 and other veterans.

The main priority was and is to continue to

provide the veterans of Carroll County an appropriate memorial. It celebrated 20 years in 2019.

Within a year of forming the group, they were able to break ground for the park. The original construction of 24 marble Walls of Honor containing 1,152 individual plaques showing name, rank, and service record was completely filled by 2016 under the leadership of Norris Garrett. The association was able to expand the park by fifty percent adding 12 additional walls under the leadership of Donald Levans, making room for 576 more plaques and adding for the future.

There are 27 complete Walls of Honor containing 1,152 individual plaques showing name, rank, and service record. Currently, the association is in the process of completing Wall 28 that has 14 open slots.

The Killed In Action Walls are up to date and contain all the Carroll County veterans of all the U.S. wars beginning with the American Revolution. All branches of the U. S. Military are represented on the Emblem Wall, which is complete.

The Women’s Wall brings attention to the contribution of women in all wars since the Revolution.

The Contributor Wall of Honor is being updated as new contributors qualify. It contains the names of those who gave $500 or more toward helping make the park what it is today.

There were also innumerable volunteers who donated their time and skills to make the park as accessible nd attractive as it is today.

A new feature was added in 2018 after a teenaged Eagle Scout approached the Carroll County Veterans Memorial Park Association with the idea of adding a POW/MIA table to honor those still missing.

After a vote for the project and careful planning, the idea became a reality. The Eagle scout raised $4,000 on his own to help with the cost of the project. The table helps to highlight the KIA Walls which brings attention to the 332 killed in action from Carroll County in all wars since the Revolution More than 400 tour the new Tanner “Health Pavilion”: a $35M 130,000 square foot facility More than 400 guests took advantage of their invitation to be among the first to see the new Tanner Health Pavilion, built on Dixie Street across from Tanner Medical Center, Carrollton. The 130,000-square-foot, $35 million facility is designed to make care more convenient and accessible. It focuses on wellness, with park-like grounds around the facility, a trailhead to the Carrollton GreenBelt and, soon, a new GreenBelt spur to downtown.

It will house Tanner Healthcare for Children - formerly Carousel Pediatrics and Children’s Healthcare of West Georgia; Tanner Breast Health, Comprehensive Breast Care Center and Tanner Healthcare for Women - formerly West Georgia Healthcare for Women and West Georgia OB/GYN and administrative offices for Tanner Medical Group.

The new Tanner Imaging Center - offering MRI, CT, ultrasound, X-ray and fluoroscopy - was also on display. The center is an outpatient destination offering more affordable, hospital-quality imaging services for those with high-deductible health plans.

Other services will relocate to the facility in the coming weeks and months, including Tanner Heart & Vascular Specialists, the

John and Barbara Tanner Cardiac Rehab Center, Tanner Primary Care of Carrollton and West Georgia Internal Medicine.

The building also features space for a pharmacy and a restaurant.

Tanner President and CEO Loy Howard said, “We feel strongly that part of the healing process is your environmen. Every angle of this building is designed to encourage that - the art, the design, the greenspace - to encourage healing and wellness.”

Space was being cleared next to the facility to accommodate additional greenspace and a parking deck.

Georgia Screatary of State cleans voter files by 4% as required by law The Georgia Secretary of State’s Office made routine and legally required updates to

Georgia’s voter file that reduced the voter roll by 4%.

These updates are required by federal and state law in order to ensure that the state has the most up-to-date voter information. The list of registrations cancelled: https://sos.ga.gov/admin/uploads/2019_NG E_List.xlsx The process started under the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, signed into federal law by then-President Bill Clinton.

Additional laws were passed in Georgia regarding list maintenance in 1994 by a Democrat majority General Assembly and signed into law by a Democrat Governor.

Lastly, these laws were implemented by a Democrat Georgia Secretary of State.

See YEAR IN REVIEW page 17

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Two local attorneys announce early for state judgeship: Tisinger and Lane Carroll County attorneys Met Lane and Erica Tisinger each announced in December intention to run for state court judgeship.

Qualifying will be held March 2-6, 2020.

The judge will preside over cases in the five county Coweta Circuit that included Carroll County.

Carrollton attorney Erica Tisinger announced her campaign for Carroll County State Court Judge. She was the first candidate to officially announce a campaign to replace retiring Judge Robert Sullivan. The election will be held on May 19, 2020.

She has more than 16 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. She is currently a partner at Greer Tisinger where she specializes in family law. She has tried several jury trials and hundreds of bench trials. She is a partner at Greer Tisinger, LLC. Erica Tisinger is licensed in Tennessee and Georgia . . focuses in Georgia on domestic relations, probate matters, personal injury, and general civil litigation. She tried several jury trials and approximately 100 bench trials and argued before the Tennessee Court of Appeals.

Carrollton local attorney, elected Carrollton City Council Member and lifelong local Met Lane has also announced that he will run for State Court Judge.

Lane was born and raised in Carroll County. A 1991 Carrollton High School graduate, Lane received his bachelor’s degree from Furman University in Greenville, SC. A scholarship recipient Lane received his law degree from the University of South Carolina.

Lane was an Assistant District Attorney for the Coweta Judicial Circuit. He has served on the Carrollton City Council from 2016-2019. Lane has practiced law for over 18 years and is presently a law partner with Shadrix, Lane and Parmer, P.C. located in Carrollton.

Met Lane said that he will not create laws from the bench. He added, “I agree with the United States Supreme Court Chief Justice when he said that judges should be like umpires in baseball. They are there to call balls and strikes; not to assist one side or the other.”

Analyis on current administration building presented to commission: building too small, laylout “challenging” In November 2013, Carroll County voters approved a $96M SPLOST that included “acquiring, constructing, and equipping a County Administration Building and parking associated therewith”. In mid-September of this year, Commission Chairman Michelle Morgan hired an analyst to “ascertain Administration Office needs” and to “summarize the results to help formulate decisions concerning potential chnges to the current facility; move to another building; or a build-to-suit Administration Office.”

Robbie Blackmon of Aurora Advisory Services, a local business, was hired by the chairman for a 30 day job for the fee of $3,200. Blackmon’s duties included: “collect feedback from key administrators”; “create a dynamic questionaire”; “interview Carroll County leaders”; “provide general physical overview of the current Administration Office facility”; and “provide a summarized report”. Aurora Advisory was tasked with providing a summary of what the needs are: new building; same building with

repairs/renovations; or move to another building.

At the December 3rd regular meeting of the commissioners, Blackmon presented a “Carroll County Administration Office Needs Analysis Update” to the board.

Blackmon stated that his findings were “not a recommendation”. Morgan supported that statement by saying this was a first step in the process towards a decision on the ad-min building, and mentioned possibly hiring Blackmon again for a future study of some sort.

Blackmon’s 30 day findings were not surprising: the building that houses five county departments - tax commissioner, elections, tax assessor, community development, and public health - with 52 full time employees is “three times” too small, and the layout is “not ideal” to “workability”. Blackmon’s report states: 1. the current building needs three times more space to handle the storage of and testing of the new paper trail voting machines 2. the layout of the 1948 public school building is “challenging” and has “shortcomings” 3. the “workability” of the county offices currently housed there is “not ideal”.

Specifically, the elections office can be housed separately, as their functions do not interface with the tax and tag office, map office, codes, etc. Elections could be “isolated without loss of productivity.”

The specifics given by Blackmon for the elections department alone is that it currently has 2857 square feet available; but the minimum required with the new paper trail voting machines is 5687 square feet; and that “effective storage and testing” space

would be 7007 square feet. Blackmon observed that the planning and zoning department lacks WIFI, screens, projectors, and other modern communiciation tools.

The chairman stated another report would most likely be needed before any action is taken on the ad-min project.

Carrollton’s Southwire Company suffers company-wide (global) cyber attack Southwire, privately-owned Carrolltonbased $6B global company, suffered a cyber attack on Monday, December 9, 2019. emails down, business disrupted, some employees sent home; not known if ransomware was involved at that time. (See story update front page this edition.)

Southeastrans headquarters’ groundbreaking held in Villa Rica Southeastrans held a well attended groundbreaking to relocate its headquarters in Villa Rica on Nov. 19th. The 88,000 square foot corporate headquarters to be built next to Tanner Medical Center on Dallas Highway (next to Tanner Medical Center) and will house 300 employees - a $20 million investment into Carroll County when the company relocates its Arkansas headquarters and operation center to Villa Rica.

CEO, and Villa Rica High School graduate, Steve Adams first announced his intentions to make this move last February when he spoke at Villa Rica’s Mainstreet “Leadership Luncheon”. “Nothing would make me prouder,” stated Adams at the luncheon, “than to bring my company back to Villa Rica.”

Adams said his company employs more than one thousand people in nine states.

“This investment represents a new era for

Southeastrans, Inc., and I am very proud to bring it to my Carroll County roots,” said Steve Adams at the groundbreaking event.

“When we were considering locations, we considered factors such as a talented labor supply, business-friendly governments, and supportive partners in our long-term plans.

After meeting with the city of Villa Rica, Tanner Health System, and Carroll Tomorrow, we knew Carroll County was the best place for our growing business. They are a progressive group, and they have opened their arms to us.”

Earlier this year, the company established an early-stage call center in the city’s former library. That call center is currently in operation with over 40 employees.

Founded in 2000, Southeastrans, Inc., serves as a transportation management company specializing in broker management of Medicaid non-emergency transportation services. The company offers a range of services and solutions to promote safe and reliable transportation via its network of transportation providers.

Today, Southeastrans, Inc., manages over 3.3 million enrollees and provides 5 million trips annually in Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

“On behalf of the City Council of Villa Rica, I thank and congratulate Southeastrans, Inc., for its decision to invest in our community,” stated city of Villa Rica Mayor Jeff Reese at the groundbreaking.

“Our community has supported companies as they search for land, talent, and opportunities, and we will work tirelessly to make our city an excellent location for our residents and businesses.”

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. Alexander, age Jr., 71, anny Joe Jones, mber died s, born27, May1947, 16, 2019, y 14, 2019 ay, July 4, 2019 Bishop, Jr., age age 62, Nell Lovvorn, mber 28, 1956, died ugust 3, 1932, died ly 9, 2019 July 10, 2019 rasseal “Don”age Bonner, xon McGill, 76, nerJune 1943, died died 18,05,1941, ,July July17, 10,2019 2019 Brown, Jr., age 53, arker Mullis, Jr., age tember 18, 1965, died died July 31, 1948, y 8, 2019 zabeth Phillips Bryce, ee Nichols, age 66, n4,September 14,Friday, 1929, 1953, died ay, July 20, 2019 9 yne Carden, age age 79, 80, D. Sanders, ber 29, 1938, died 06, 1939, died July e 28, 2019

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Shirley F. F. Alexander, age 71,71, Tiffanee Dawne “Tiff” Cook, Master Joe“Tiff” Jones, Jr.,Jr., Jerry Scott Shedd, age 53,53, Lyda Blanche Worley Prince, ageJones, 89, born Shirley Alexander, age Tiffanee Dawne “Tiff” Cook, Mildred Imogene Handley, age 87,Danny born Shirley F. Alexander, age Jr., 71, Tiffanee Dawne Cook, Tiffanee “Tiff” Master Danny Jones, Jerry Scott Shedd, age Shirley F. Alexander, age Tiffanee Master Danny Joe Jr.,71, Jerry Master Danny Joe Jones, Scott Dawne Shedd, “ Jerry Scott Shedd,Joe age 53, Patty Sue Dawne Frakes Alexander, age 85, born April Jerry Scott Shedd, ageCook, 53, born November 27, 1947, died age 45, born October 12, 1973, age 2 months, born May 16, 2019, died Monday, July 8, 2019 born November 27, died age 45, born October 12, 1973, born November 27, 1947, died ageage 45,2 months, born October 12,February 1973, age 45, born October 12,1947, 1973,23, born May 16, 2019, died Monday, JulyMay 8, 2019 born November 27, 1947, dieddied age 45, born Octobe age 2 months, born 16, 2019, 22, 1930, died Tuesday, December 10, age 2 months, born May 16, 2019, Monday, July 8, 201 died Monday, July 8, 2019 died Monday, July 8, 2019 February 17, 1932, died December 23, 2019 11, 1934, died Monday, December 2019 Sunday, July 14,14, 2019 died Friday, July 12,12, 2019 died Thursday, 4, 2019 David Ronald age Sunday, July 2019 age died died Friday, July 2019 Sunday, July 14, 2019 died Friday, JulyJuly 12, 2019 died Friday, July 12, 2019 died Thursday, July 4, 2019 David Ronald Simpson, age died Sunday, July 14,Simpson, 2019 Friday, July Simp 12, 2 died Thursday, July 4, 2019 Thursday, July 4, 2019 David Ronald David Ronald Simpson, age David Ronald Simpson, 2019 Bobby R. Horsley, age 59, born February 15, Dwight Jr.,72, 62, B. B.Dean, age 92,92, “Marjorie” Nell Lovvorn, age 70, born July 21, 1948, died July Trena AnnBishop, Bailey, age died Friday, James Bishop, Jr.,age age JamesBishop, Dean, age Dwight Jr., age 62, 70, born James B.21, Dean, age July 92,age 70, James B.21, Dean, age 92, 62, “Marjorie” “Marjorie” Nell Lovvorn, born July 21, Lovvorn, 1948, died July Dwight Bishop, Jr., age 62, James B. Dean “Marjorie” Nell age Nell Lovvorn, age 70, born July 21, 1948, July 1948, died 70,born bornDwight July 1948, died July Margaret A.2019 Swanger Puckett, age 73, born September 28,28, 1956, died born September 1926, died 1960,02, died Thursday, January 02, 2020 86,86, born 3, 3, 1932, died December 13, 201902, born September 1956, born September 02, 1926, died born September 28, 1956, died born September 02, 1926, died born September 1926, dieddied bornAugust August 1932, died09, 2019 born September 1956,died died09,born 86,09, born August 3,28, 1932, 86, born August 3, 1932, died 2019September 02, 09, 2019 09, 2019 Tuesday, July 9, 2019 Wednesday, July 3, 2019 Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Zellie Fred Sprewell, age 94,94, Wednesday, July 3, 20 July 09, 1946, died Saturday, December 21, 2019 Martha Ann House, age 81, born May 13, Tuesday, July 9, 2019 Wednesday, July 3, 2019 Margaret Herren Brewer Callaway, age 93, Tuesday, July 9, 2019 Wednesday, July 3, 2019 Wednesday, July 3, 2019 Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Zellie Fred Sprewell, age Tuesday, July 9, 2019 Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Zellie Fred Sprewell, Zellie Fred Sprewell, age 94, Zellie Fred Sprewell, age 94, Donald Brasseal “Don” Bonner, Barry Bushon Dickerson, age Andra Dixon McGill, age 76,76,born February 28, 1925, died Zachary Allan Ray, age 57, born March 2, Donald Brasseal “Don” Bonner, Barry Bushon Dickerson, age 1938, died Saturday, December 28, 2019 Donald Brasseal “Don” Bonner, Barry Bushon Dickerson, age Barry Bushon Dickerson, age Andra Dixon McGill, age born February 28, 1925, died Donald Brasseal “Don” Bonner, Barry Bushon Andra Dixon McGill, age 76, Andra Dixon McGill, age 76, born February 28, Dick 19 born February 28, 1925, died born July 14, 1926, died December 29, 2019 born February 28, 05, 1925, died age 76,76, born June 1943, died 68,68, born September 7, 7, 1950, died born October 18,18, 1941, died Saturday, July 27, 2019 age born June 05, 1943, died born September 1950, died age 76, born June 05, 1943, died 68, born September 7, 1950, died 68, Gail born September 7, 1950, died born October 1941, died Saturday, July 27, 2019 age 76, born June 05, 1943, died 68, born September 7 1962, died Saturday, December 21, 2019 born October 18, 1941, died born October 18, 1941, died Saturday, July 27, 2019 Saturday, July 27, 2019 Charles C. Kenerly, age 75, born November 5, Saturday, July 27, 2019 Scott Carnes, age2019 73, born August 14, July 19, 2019 Wednesday, July 10, Friday, Wednesday, July 17,17, 2019 Daniel Lance Walker, age 40,40, Friday, July 19, 2019 Wednesday, July 10, age 201940, Wednesday, Friday, July 19, 2019 Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Friday, July 19, 2019 Friday, July 19, 2019 Wednesday, July 2019 Daniel Lance Walker, age Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Wednesday, July 17, 2019 July 17, 2019 Daniel Lance Walker Daniel Lance Walker, age 40, Daniel Lance Walker, Dr. Bob “Woody” Reeves, age 82, died died 1944, died Tuesday, December 10, 2019 John D. Jr.,Jr.,age 53, Jean Dodderer, age 84, 1946, died Wednesday, December 11, 2019Bobbie Eugene Parker Mullis, Jr.,Jr., age September 18,18, 1978, John D.Brown, Brown, age Bobbie Jean Dodderer, John D. Brown, Jr., Jr., ageage 53,84, Jean Dodderer, age 84,ageborn Bobbie Jean Dodderer, age 84, 53, Eugene Eugene Parker Mullis, born September 1978, died John D. Brown, Jr., age 53,born Bobbie Jean 18, Dodde Eugene Parker Mullis, Jr., age Parker Mullis, age September 19 bornBobbie September 18, 1978, died born September 18, 1978, died Wednesday, January 1, 2020 born August 18, 1965, died July born July 9, 1935, died Monday, Wallace Talmadge Lambert, age 88, born 70,70, born December 31,31, 1948, died July 21,21, 2019 Cook, ageMonday, 86,died bornJuly April 13, born August 18,died 1965, born July 9,18, 1935, died Monday, born August 1965, died July Sunday, born July 9,December 1935, died Monday, bornFrances July 9,Pope 1935, born 1948, diedSunday, Sunday, July 2019 born August 18, 1965, died JulySunday, born July 9, 1935, di 70, born December 31, 1948, died 70, born December 31, 1948, died July 21, 2019 July 21, 2019 Sunday, July 21, 2019 22,22, 2019 July 22,22, 2019 Monday, July 8, 8, 2019 Deborah Ann Addie “Virginia Teal, “Debbie” 82, died December August 1931, died December 2019 1933, died Thursday, 12, 2019 2019 2019 22,July 2019 July 22, 30, 2019 July 22, 2019 Monday, July 2019 Deborah AnnWest, West, July 22, 2019 22, 2019 Monday, Julyage 8,“Debbie” 2019 Monday, July 8, 201913, Deborah “Debbie” A Deborah “Debbie” Ann West, Deborah “Debbie”December Ann West, Marie Elizabeth Phillips Bryce, Anna Marsella Fazio, age Randy Lee Nichols, age 66, age 58, died July 22, 2019 16, 2019 Marie Elizabeth Phillips Bryce, Anna Marsella Fazio, age John Earnest Mann, age 70, born January 18, Marie Elizabeth Phillips Bryce, Anna Marsella Fazio, age Anna Marsella Fazio, age Randy Lee22,Nichols, age 66, age 58, died July 22, 2019 Marie Elizabeth Phillips Bryce, Anna Marsella Randy Lee Nichols, age 66, Randy Lee Nichols, age 66, Janice Cook Denney, age 87, died December age 58, died July 22, 20F age 58, died July 2019 age 58, died July 22, 2019 age 89, born September 14,14, 1929, 85,85,born ononJan 1, 1,1934, died born June 24,24, 1953, Friday, Wallace Allen Worthan, age age born 1929, Jan 1934, died85, age June 89,born born September 14, 1929, born on Jan 1, died 1934, died 85, born89,on JanSeptember 1, 1934, age died born June 1953, died Friday, Wallace Allen Worthan, age 85, Jewel Simmons Wells, age 87, born January age 89, born September 14, 1929, born Allen on Jan 1, born June 24, 1953, died Friday, born 24, 1953, died Friday, Wallace Worth Wallace Allen Worthan, age 1949, died Sunday, December 15, 2019 Wallace Allen Worthan, 12, 2019 died Saturday, July 20,20, 2019 Monday, July 8, 8, 2019 July 26,26, 2019 56,56, died Monday, July 15,15, 2019 died Saturday, July 2019 Monday, July 2019 died Saturday, July 20, 2019 Monday, July 8, 2019 Monday, July 8, 2019 July 2019 died Monday, July 2019 56,Monday, died Saturday, July 20, 2019 July 8,July 2019 July 26, 2019 July 26, 2019 died Monday, 15 56, died Monday, July 15, 2019 56, died Monday, July 15, 2019 14, 1932, died Tuesday, December 31, 2019 Betty Tolar Britt McGowan, age 81, born Helen S. Wayne Finleyson, age 83, born November 6, Nell Earl Wayne Carden, age 80, Harris Griffin Ara Bell D. D. Sanders, age 79,79, Carol Judith Chapman, age 55,55, Earl Carden, age 80, Ara Harris Nell GriffinJennings, Jennings, Earl Wayne Carden, age 80, Harris Nell Griffin Jennings, Harris Nell Chapman, Griffin Jennings, Ara Bell Sanders, age Carol Judith Chapman, age Earl Wayne Carden, age 80, Harris Nell Griffin Ara Bell D. Sanders, age 79, Bell D. Sanders, age 79, Carol Judith Chapman Carol Judith Chapman, age 55, Carol Judith age 55, David Harris June West, 24, age 1964, 81, born on Sunday, October born October 29, died age 83,83,died Tuesday, Julydied 2, Monday, August 21, 1938, December 16, born August 06, 1939, died July died 1936, died Monday, December born October 29,1938, 1938, died age died Tuesday, born October 29, 1938, died 2, age 83, died Tuesday, July 2, age 83, died Tuesday, July30,2,2019 born August 06, 1939, died Julyborn born June 24, died born October 29, 1938, diedborn ageJune 83,24, died Tuesd born August 06,1964, 1939, diedSunday, July born August 06, 1939, died July July 1964, died born June 24, 1964, died Sunday, born June 24, 1964, died Sunday, Friday, June 28, 2019 2019 24, 2019 July 7, 2019 30, 1938, died Tuesday, December 24, 2019 2019 Esma Christine Fountain Gaston, age 93, born Friday, June 28, 2019 2019 Friday, June 28, 2019 2019 2019 24, 2019 July 7, 2019 Friday, June 28, 2019 2019 24, 2019 24, 2019 July 7, 2019 July 7, 2019 July 7, 2019 Little Miss Kylie LaRae Whisenhunt, infant, Roger Dale Pressley, age 71, born May 19, February 06, 1926, died Monday, Dec 16, 2019 died Saturday, December 7, 2019 1948, died Thursday, January 2, 2020

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www.starnewsgaonline.com ERNIE REYNOLDS from page 21 very unhealthy and felt constantly drained and even foggy and unable to think clearly and retain textbook content, etc.

To make a very, very long story very short, we found out it was Lyme’s Disease and affiliated infections of Babesia. My son went through significant treatment for several years. Yes, several years of significantly grueling treatment, where the cure was just as difficult as the disease. Many times, he would call me on his way to college class and tell me he didn’t feel well at all, but had to take his final exam today… And two to three days later, he would call to tell me he’d not only passed the final exam, but made the highest grade in the class!

The cost of the cure was tens of thousands of dollars (many tens of thousands of $$,$$$), which I gladly pulled out of IRA accounts (prematurely, before retirement

NATHAN HUMPHREY from page 21 ripple effect because almost every product is transported on a truck.

Georgia has the 11th highest auto insurance rates in the country, 22% higher than the national average, according to Insure.com. Despite having some of the highest insurance premiums in the country, Georgia is also one of the least profitable states in the country for insurance companies to operate.

Premises liability has become one area of many concerns for Georgia small businesses.

Georgia courts have permitted tens of millions of dollars to be awarded against property owners and businesses for crimes committed by criminals on or even just outside their property. Instead of prosecuting the criminals, business and property owners are

age) to get to the bottom of this and get him beyond the devastating symptoms. Doctors who are prominent in treating this typically do not take insurance payments, requiring the cash!

Through all of this, through all the years, he never gave up HOPE - he never quit college - and he was always on the Dean’s List, he never missed carrying a full college load.

He finished college and is running a legal office and plans to one day attend law school, after saving up some funds! And he’s regained his athletic endurance too - and back at being a very good tennis player!

He is one stellar example to me of unrelenting HOPE - I tell him he has the most fortitude I have ever seen - to overcome and forge through unrelenting difficulties - and never give up, but excel in the face of them consistently!

2) God’s Son is another example to me

of unrelenting HOPE. Persevering through all the struggles, with the world-wide responsibility for humanity, forging through the dire circumstances, even through the agony of crucifixion, there was endurance and it was possible because of HOPE. Hebrews 12 confirms that, and I often find it encouraging, where it says, “… let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus…, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross…” The joy that was set before Him was His HOPE. For you, in this new year, whatever your circumstance - whether you’re on the mountaintop of elation and success - or in the valley of indecision or hardship or loss - my wish for you is that you have HOPE. Because, with HOPE inside, you can find joy and there can well up within you a strength to overcome, no matter what. And you can find an inner fortitude that can pro-

often held liable and become victims of lawsuits.

Any owner of a business or property risks a frivolous lawsuit, including homeowners, convenience stores, apartment complexes, grocery stores, or anyone with a parking lot or storefront. The most unfortunate part of this is business owners feel there is nothing they can do to protect themselves from the gamesmanship of billboard personal injury lawyers.

Georgia small businesses are easy targets for frivolous claims because they do not have the resources, time, or sophisticated internal infrastructure to litigate a meritless case in the judicial system. Billboard personal injury attorneys know this and use it as leverage to force them to settle. Businesses cannot afford to be right, so they are forced

to pay.

There is good news, however. The General Assembly has heard the concerns of small businesses and is considering legislation to improve our legal climate in this legislative session. The senate created a study committee, resulting in 19 recommendations to help bring needed balance to our legal environment. A coalition of over 40 organizations representing every industry and type of business from every corner of our state is supporting these needed reforms.

Addressing these challenges is not going to be easy, but Georgia small businesses are motivated, and I am confident we will make 2020 even better than last year.

Nathan Humphrey is National Federation of Independent Businesses’ state director for Georgia

Are you feeling discouraged because of failed anti-depressant medications or side effects from them? It’s time to try the latests treatment for depression, Transranial Magnetic Stimulation, (T.M.S), an F.D.A cleared treatment for depression. Over 1 million people have experienced significant long-lasting improvement from T.M.S.

StarNews January 12, 2020

Page 19

pel you and cause you to endure anything - with HOPE of a better tomorrow, that you can focus on today!

And we, together, can focus on that today!

Next time, I’ll write about county government. But for now, at the beginning of this new 2020 year and decade, let’s take in the bigger picture - and may each of you find a lively HOPE inside that propels us toward good - and a better tomorrow!

And I’ll continue to put in my average of 6 to 8 working hours per day as your District 5 County Commissioner, making improvements to your county & county government and handling your requests. I love doing it and wish each of you all the best in 2020.

Please follow me on my FaceBook account and send me a “FaceBook friend request” and contact me anytime.

ED WILSON from page 22 now has about 7% - seven percent! approval. Keep a list of the phone numbers of ALL elected representatives and CALL THEM when something bothers you. In all honesty, they may be unaware. In any event, make your views known. Cannot hurt.

Why the Washington political parasites cannot deal with junk mail and unwanted phone calls, I do not know. Perhaps it is the Trump haters who are the real leaders of the House.

If you are one of the deplorables, help Trump drain the swamp.

If you are one of the progressives who want all the “freebies”, consider that socialism is pretty much a one way street.

Incentive dies and the populace suffers.

Remember an ancient truism: Truly, the squeaky wheel gets the grease!

Cedwilson587@yahoo.com

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Page 20 January 12, 2020

StarNews www.starnewsgaonline.com

COMMENTARY

Page 21 January 12, 2020

StarNews / StarNews Online www.starnewsgaonline.com

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2020 should be a solid year for both Carroll County’s businesses and governments

Citizens will continue paying higher taxes supporting local government; consumer spending predicted to increase, supporting our local economy This new year should be a solid year economically for our Carroll County government/municipal entities and businesses, both large and small.

UE The county’s governments and cities will continue to benefit from the HORN across-the-board property assessment increases of recent years to fuel their EDITOR/ PUBLISHER salaries and projects, while businesses will benefit from a predicted increased consumer spending (see Page 9). The Georgia Economic Outlook report also states that Georgia’s economy will greatly slow along with the rest of the nation, with only a one percent growth predicted for Georgia in 2020; the nation’s predicted growth only at 1.2%.

The next recession is always on the minds of professional prognosticators, but the date of that varies depending on which great mind you are picking.

In the meantime, governments should not overspend while keeping their cash reserve at the suggested percentage, and small businesses should stay on top of what their consumers want while putting cash back for the next long or short - set of rainy recession days.

Work sessions are for working: Our front page relates a verbal interchange at the recent commission work session. District 5 Commissioner Ernie Reynolds, retired state auditor, asked a question concerning timeliness of invoice postings to the county’s budget. He asked if there was a reason for this, and was there a solution? Reynolds commented that, “... the postings we see don’t represent a true picture of all the bills.” County finance director Alecia Searcy explained that the county does not use a “full accrual system” and that in “governmental accounting you don’t do it that way.” She added she would “love to see a full accrual system... but that’s not the accounting standard for governmental accounting.” This should have been the beginning of a discussion among board members and staff on possible solutions or changes, or perhaps a discussion for no changes. But, that didn’t happen.

Commission Chair Michelle Morgan did not address the question or open up the floor for a discussion on ideas to resolve that issue - which would have been a typical work session activity for an elected board. Instead, she remarked that this was “really more my job”, and that while the elected district commissioners may be interested “individually” she “reminded” them “these are things that I will take care of.”

Commissioners Tommy Lee (District 3 Commissioner since 2013) and Clint Chance (District 2 Commissioner one year) both objected to this dismissal. Chance said, “One of our jobs collectively as a board is to watch over the finances. So, if I am aware that something is behind a couple of months, I have an issue with that. I’m not saying that’s not your job but you’re saying -” Morgan interrupted Chance stating, “I think you need to bring that up to me and you don’t announce it at a meeting like this. I think that is a discussion you need to be having with me individually.”

Lee then asked the rhetorical question: “I thought a work session’s purpose was to discuss finances or any issue on the agenda? I mean, we are presented a financial and if we have issues with it, I thought we were supposed to discuss it at a work session.”

Lee is correct. of course. Government work sessions are just that - for working through issues and problems - and in the public eye.

By reprimanding the board for asking questions about finance, and stating she should have been contacted privately and not in view of the public - not “at a meeting like this” - Morgan opened the door to the serious question of what other business of the public’s is being discussed and/or decided behind closed doors?

S

Hope: My thoughts and well wishes for the New Year!

As your District 5 County Commissioner, I usually write this monthly StarNews article about issues related to your county government, which I love informing you about! But, today, given that it is the beginning of a new year and a new decade, maybe you won’t mind if I relay to you some thoughts I’ve been having about life in general - particularly about HOPE! HOPE is what gives us all some fuel - that can propel us toward accomplishments in the future. It is that feeling inside that dwells not on the past of yesterday, but on the future of tomorrow - on reaching toward a better tomorrow, that we can focus on today.

In this holiday season, many of us have received and/or given the well wishes for a “Happy New Year.” That is nice. It is great to wish others well and to help them accomplish just that - and to look forward to happiness and a brighter future in each of our lives.

Of course, a wish for a “Happy New Year” doesn’t mean that our struggles or fears or hardships will suddenly vanish - and we’ll suddenly be placed in a utopia of happiness as the calendar period flips to 2020. Struggles, fears, and hardships will accompany us this year - but I wish for all of you that you can experience a real and

ERNIE

REYNOLDS District 5 Carroll County Commissioner

ereynolds@carrollcounty ga.com 770-851-6215 even stronger HOPE this year that will propel you to accomplish and overcome and rise above, in spite of us all having hardships and issues of many sorts to deal with.

Some of you may recall an earlier article I wrote about experiencing things during my campaign visits with many of you.

My visits with you just struck me so realistically, that my District and our life here in rural Carroll County together, was just a microcosm of the nation and world and humanity in general.

Many of you expressed to me how you or your family were experiencing health problems, significant burdens, financial struggles, or maybe had even just placed a loved one in the hospital or had a loss… Simultaneously, others expressed elation about just getting a new home or better job or finding out good news about college or a wedding or

child… It reminded me of that verse in Ecclesiastes: “To everything there is a season… a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones…”

We all face life’s ups and downs throughout this District and throughout humanity.

During the ups and downs of life, I want to encourage you to always have HOPE. I’ll very briefly relay to you two examples of persons who never gave up HOPE - even through very grueling and dire experiences, they forged through - and they are constant reminders to me of persistent HOPE: 1) My son was always both athletic and academic. He loved basketball and tennis, and was very good at both. He also loved to learn and excel academically and loved being challenged and competing and winning at classes and regional academic events during college. He chose to attend Wake Forest University, where he excelled and was always on the Dean’s List, in the top 5% of his class, and was on the Board of Investigators and Advisors and selected as one of only 8 in the entire university to be on the Leadership Committee.

Suddenly, however, he called me and indicated he had become

See ERNIE REYNOLDS page 19

Georgia’s small businesses to build on past successes in 2020 Georgia small businesses had a lot to be happy about in 2019.

November’s unemployment rate fell to a historic record low of 3.3%. In fact, the biggest complaint from business owners is that they can’t find qualified workers to hire.

Thirty percent of small business owners reported raising compensation and 26% plan to do so in the coming months, the highest level since December 1989, according to NFIB’s monthly jobs report. Owners are adding an average of 0.29 workers per firm in November, which is the highest level since May. These impressive gains are in large part because Georgia small businesses are feeling confident.

NFIB’s monthly Small Business Optimism Index Report showed small business optimism posted its largest month-over-month increase since May 2018, rising 2.3 points to 104.7 in November.

The exceptional Index reading was bolstered by advancement in 7 of the 10 Index components, led by a 10-point improvement in earnings. Owners reporting “a good time to expand” increased by 6 points and those “expecting better business conditions” increased by 3 points.

One reason our members feel

NATHAN HUMPHREY

STATE DIRECTOR National Federation of Independent Businesses

impact on small businesses.

According to the U.S. Chamber’s Institute for Legal Reform, Georgia’s national legal ranking has fallen from 24th to 41st in just seven years. On top of that, the American Tort Reform Association listed Georgia as a Judicial Hell-Hole for the first time. This is in part due to a dramatic expansion of premises liability, record-breaking nuclear verdicts, and the increasing frequency and cost of litigation.

Small business owners, employees, and customers are victimized while billboard personal injury lawyers line their pockets at our expense.

Every product and service bought or sold in Georgia has a built-in liability cost baked into the sticker price. In fact, the average family in Georgia pays over $3,631 per year in liability costs because of our poor legal climate.

Georgia has the 2nd highest insurance rates in the country for startup businesses with a tractortrailer. Logging truck companies have seen a 300% increase in insurance premiums in just two years. Mom-and-pop trucking companies are going out of business because they cannot afford insurance coverage. This has a

confident is that Gov. Brian Kemp has is committed to enhancing the small business climate and prioritized it since he came into office.

His first act as governor created the Georgian’s First Commission to make Georgia the No. 1 state for small businesses.

This has been met with bipartisan support and excitement among small business owners as the commission looks from top to bottom at regulatory issues, tax policy, and bureaucratic red tape, which all cause chokepoints for small businesses doing business in our state.

But while there is plenty to be optimistic about, there are still very concerning challenges facing small business owners in Georgia.

As we enter 2020 and a new legislative session, the unequivocal top concern is Georgia’s abysmal legal climate and its negative See NATHAN HUMPHREY page 19

Page 22 January 12, 2020

StarNews

COMMENTARY

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Why do they think we are stupid?

express your concerns, then make a note in your phone’s calendar AND post a note on your refrigerator so you see it EVERY day.

What has caught my interest? It is my understanding that at the FIRST meeting after the election of our new County Commission Chair, the the 2019-2020 Thoughts Carroll County budget was increased by over While Shaving $3,000,000. In my view, this “modest” cedwilson587 increase was a direct payoff to our county @yahoo.com employees for their political support.

Why do they think we are stupid? Mostly What did this $3M local increase cost you? because we are. The public is routinely My guess, based on some 45,530 households abused by political and commercial huck- in the county, their largess cost each housesters in every way known to man. hold just at $65.89. Yep, your vote - or lack Let’s start with the political class. It is thereof - increased your costs about sixty-six either get elected or don’t waste your time dollars. Okay, not a problem. Not okay: only running. If you vote for people who abuse the electorate can fix it. you, you are complicit. If you do not vote, Probable justification for the increase was you let others decide for you. So how do you retention of valuable county employees. fight back? 1. You communicate 2. You Now, every employee, government, and remember, and 3. You correct your mistakes. commercial business tends to rise to their How to remember? Call the politician and level of incompetency. Accordingly, the

ED

WILSON

ambitious tend to move on and up, while those lacking the initiative to move up just keep doing the same thing for more money.

In my view, that is the real world.

So, what is my beef with the City of Carrollton? For some 30 plus years, I owned rental units in Carrollton. Last year, reaching for revenue, Carrollton decided that I required a “Business License” to manage my own property. I disagreed, as I considered this unearned rip-off akin to Mafia protection money. But I lost, so I exercised my option: I sold all my real property in Carrollton and now generally avoid shopping there. Do they care? Probably not. Who pays this business license fee? The renters, who else? The renters should understand those costs increasing their rent when they vote.

Other who prey on us: junk mail. Just today, I am sending back in their POSTAGE PAID ENVELOPES, 1. A request to renew AARP SEVEN MONTHS before my membership expires. 2. Two pitches from Globe

Life for Life insurance their company CANNOT sell me due to my age. And 3. A pitch from Danbury Mint to buy a coin for a $30 discount that is $50 overpriced.

If you get any unwanted mail with a postage paid return envelope, use their envelope to request they remove you from their mailing list AND if you really want to cause them a problem, put extra weight in the envelope to cost them more money!

Don’t ever make a contribution via e-mail.

Your name will be sold and resold until you are on more sucker lists than you can imagine.

Next: unwanted junk calls. Blocking them is only marginally effective, so use their time and keep them on the line, or, if you can get the name of the company, write them and tell them that you plan to file a complaint as you find their junk calls “sexually offensive”.

(Who really knows what turns someone on?)

Bottom line: I understand that Congress

and yon through the crowd—hissing, spitting, and biting. Or it just might “play possum” and act dead.

But, I digress. When we first attended the possum drop in Tallapoosa about 15 years ago, it was a small, low key affair held only every other year. It is now HUGE, complete with bands, shuttle buses, and porta-potties.

You know you’re a big deal in Georgia when the crowd is so big, you have to bring in porta-potties! It’s now held every year and there’s even a hospitality tent, which is heated and requires reservations. We once witnessed a wedding just before the dropping. (Why, a few years ago, even HoneyBoo-Boo showed up!) The neatest thing for me was that a lot of the little shops are open and one can find all sorts of goodies in their depths. If you’ve never been, put it on your bucket list.

Villa Rica has it’s very own Nugget Drop with attendant fireworks at The Mill in Downtown, and of course, a band. It started out being attended by local folks who wanted to do a little celebrating, but not go hog-wild. It’s growing bigger every year and is becoming quite the place to be. I think

we’d get more attendance if we dropped some of the local politicos, preferably on their heads, but no one seems to care what I think, except the city employees who didn’t get a Christmas bonus last year because “it wasn’t in the budget.” But rest assured, dear reader, I won’t rest until we get one elected official up on that scaffolding.

My one disappointment with New Year’s Eve was when The Husband and I were first married. One could see Pikes Peak from the yard of our apartment building in Colorado Springs. Every year, the Pikes Peak AdAmAn Club members climb to the summit and set off fireworks on the stroke of midnight.

The first year, the Husband refused to budge out of his sickbed to view the display from the great outdoors. Pish Tosh, it was only a cold, with maybe a touch of bronchitis and flu! Being the dutiful wife, I stayed in with him with nary a view of Pikes Peak, consoling myself that we would be there one more year. (In my defense, I was young and not quite as well versed in fate as I am now.)

New Year’s Eve 1975-76 rolled around

success, growth and travels! The mind is so powerful that if you claim it, it increases the possibilities of it happening.

The key to successfully checking off your goals are learning to set S.M.A.R.T goals.

Goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time bound.

SMART goals work best because you can evaluate your progress objectively: Specific - What will my goal achieve?

Measurable- How will I know when I have accomplished the goal?

Attainable- Are there resources need to obtain my goal? (gym membership, etc.)

Relevant- Why am I doing this? Is it a priority?

Time- What is the deadline? Have I given myself a reasonable amount of time to achieve it?

Another idea is to put your goals in writing. This physical act makes them tangible and real. They feel important. When you write your goals down, use the words “I will” instead of “I might,” or “I would like

to.” “I will” rings with power and intention.

Making a vision board is also a great way to see your goals every day. It helps to keep you focused on working to reach those goals. A vision board is a collage of images, pictures, and affirmations of one’s dreams and desires, designed to serve as a source of inspiration and motivation, and to use the law of attraction to attain goals. Make sure to place it where you make see it every single day.

Sharing your goals with friends and family helps to have support in reaching your goals and to some extent, it helps hold you accountable in continuing to work towards those goals.

Be realistic with setting your goals. Don’t set yourself up for failure by making them too hard to achieve in the time you set. Make sure to break the goal down in smaller steps making it a little easier to obtain. Each little step taken creates momentum toward getting to that goal, no step forward is too small.

Here’s planning to have an amazing 2020!

2020: Happy New Year!

PRISSI

SULLIVAN As I welcome in the New Year and new decade, I look back on past New Year’s Eves and realize I’ve seen a lot of varied ones.

The most exciting ones were spent in Key West, Florida; there’s something for everyone there—from the traditional dropping of the conch (pronounced “konk” as we were informed) shell in front of Sloppy Joe’s (of Ernest Hemingway fame) to the lowering of the pirate wench, accompanied by cannon blasts, at Schooner Wharf to the red high heel drop starring Sushi on Duval Street.

The Daughter and I accompanied her friend to the excitement that is Key West at New Year’s (forget laid-back) for several years. To say it was an experience is an understatement! We gravitated to the red sti-

letto, because red is my favorite color and the people were nicer and friendlier.

Drunken college students hovered around Sloppy Joe’s; I detest having alcohol spilled on me and The Daughter gets downright ugly! Cannon blasts hurt my ears and the crowd is pushy, so off to Duval Street we went. In fact, we went so many years, Sushi let us take our pictures in the red high heel one year!

Then there was the Possum Drop in Tallapoosa. Don’t be afraid—it’s a stuffed possum! Which I guess is a good thing since PETA got ahold of Andrews, North Carolina for using a live possum, which was injured last year during trapping. From now on, Andrews will use a stuffed possum. Who thought it was a good idea to use a live possum, anyway?

Possums (possae?) can be contentious creatures at best, and I can’t imagine they’re particularly happy at being trapped and taken from their home, enclosed in a glass box, and lowered into a crowd of cheering, yelling people! And when and where is it released? I would hope far, far away! I mentally envision a mad possum darting hither

New year’s resolutions, or not?

KIM

REINE Certified Intuitive Life Coach

Research shows the 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by February. Many look at New Year’s Eve as not only a celebration of the year, but a chance for a fresh start - that’s why we create resolutions. Some people may resolve to focus more on their health, while others vow to make strides in their career.

Although we go into the new year with the best of intentions to make good on these goals, it doesn’t take long for many people to give up on their New Year’s resolution or to forget about it entirely.

This year will be my first year I have not

set New Year resolutions. Instead, I will have goals. I will set daily goals and long term goals to achieve.

Somehow, setting goals instead of calling it New Year’s resolutions, sounds more attainable to me.

2019 has been a year of physical changes and learning for me. After almost two years of physical therapy and multiple surgeries after being involved in a car accident, I have found myself on a healing journey. I’m have learned and am still learning to let go of things that once bothered me stealing some of my peace. But at the same time, I have protectd my peace, learned to forgive, and set healthy boundaries.

I have learned to be thankful for this body that houses my soul and to listen my body and to it’s limitations. I have learned the art of deep mediation and how God has given each of us the ability to help heal ourselves if we walk with him daily. I have learned that I am an ever changing work of art.

I am claiming 2020 to be a great year of

See ED WILSON page 19

See PRISSI SULLIVAN page 23

COMMENTARY

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StarNews

January 12, 2020 Page 23

Basically, impeachments create political show trials in America

JASON

SWINDLE SWINDLE LAW GROUP, P.C. “I, for one, stand determined not to let this happen! Our voice will be heard, and we will fight back against this partisan, unfair and corrupt impeachment process.”

Congressman Drew Ferguson - December 18th, 2019 - Floor of the United States House of Representatives.

In America’s 243-year history, only three presidents have been impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives (House).

Presidents Andrew Johnson and William Jefferson Clinton were each acquitted in the Senate trial. We will see another acquittal in the coming months when President Trump faces trial.

It has been widely reported that President Nixon was impeached. This is not true. The Democratic-controlled House Judiciary Committee passed three articles of impeachment against Nixon for obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and obstruction of Congress.

However, after Republican senators told him he’d lost their confidence, Nixon resigned before a vote on the articles of impeachment could take place.

All three impeachments were motivated by politics, aimed at removing a lawfully elected president, and used as a political

platform for the next presidential election. - After receiving the reports from other The opposing party won the next committees, the House Judiciary Committee presidential election when Johnson and will hold further hearings.

Then, proposed articles of impeachment Clinton were impeached.

The biggest problem with impeachments are released. The two proposed articles of is that the Constitution nor federal law impeachment against President Trump are provide a specific process to carry out an (1) abuse of power and (2) obstruction of Congress.

The impeachment. This In America’s 243-year committee votes to leaves the majority party in Congress to set their history, only three presidents approve the articles and own rules. have been impeached by the they are sent to the full House for a vote.

Basically, U.S. House of HOUSE DEBATE impeachments create Representatives (House). AND VOTE - The political show trials in America.

Presidents Andrew Johnson House Rules Committee sets out the rules for INVESTIGATION The majority party in the and William Jefferson Clinton formally impeaching the were each acquitted in the president and setting House instructs their time limits on debate. committee chairs to begin Senate trial. We will see Afterwards, the House investigations regarding another acquittal in the votes. some sort of criminal or coming months when On December 18th, ethical wrongdoing by a president.

President Trump faces trial. 2019, The House passed the two articles of INITIATION - The Speaker of the House (Speaker) announces a impeachment, along party lines. To pass, a formal impeachment inquiry, directing a majority of House members would have to handful of House committees to continue vote “yes.”

Article I: Abuse of Power - Yes 230 - No their work.

The committees issue subpoenas, take depositions, and elicit 197 Article II: Obstruction of Congress - Yes testimony. This is done behind closed doors.

HOUSE VOTE ON IMPEACHMENT 229 - No 198 President Trump now stands impeached.

RULES - The House votes to approve a However, he has not been convicted of resolution that lays out the rules for the anything. impeachment inquiry into a president.

TRIAL PREPARATION - The House PUBLIC HEARINGS - After a closeddoor investigation, the House opens hearings appoints a team of lawmakers known as to the public. Reports are gathered and made managers to play the role of prosecutors in the Senate trial. The managers present the available to the public as well.

JUDICIARY COMMITTEE HEARINGS articles of impeachment to the Senate, which

would serve as the jury (except they get to ask questions during trial, unlike regular citizen-jurors).

The Chief Justice of the United States is sworn in to preside over the trial and then swears in the members of the Senate. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. will preside over this trial.

WRIT OF SUMMONS - The Senate will issue a summons to the President, asking him to respond to the articles of impeachment by a set date. If the President declines to respond to the impeachment articles, his action would be regarded as a plea of not guilty. However, there will be a robust response here.

TRIAL - Similar to jury trials across the country, there will be opening statements, examination of evidence, and closing arguments.

DELIBERATION - Deliberations happen in a closed session.

VERDICT - The Senate will vote on each article of impeachment separately. A conviction would require a two-thirds vote on one or more articles. Currently, the Senate is comprised of 45 Democrats, two independents who vote with Democrats, and 53 Republicans.

Since it will take more than two-thirds of the Senate to vote yes in order to convict President Trump and remove him from office, he will be acquitted. Senate Democrats just don’t have the numbers.

As we can see, the American Impeachment/Trial process is a disaster.

Only a Constitutional Amendment that stresses due process, specific rules, and specific criminal laws can fix this problem.

influential ancient Chinese philosopher, likewise advised similar words of wisdom when he said: “What the superior man seeks is in himself; what the small man seeks is in others.”

“Respect yourself and others will respect you.”

He spoke of wisdom a great deal: “He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.”

“Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.”

Dalai Lama also spoke about ignorance thusly: “All suffering is caused by ignorance.

People inflict pain on others in the selfish pursuit of their own happiness or

satisfaction.”

He was emphatic for promoting peace when he said, “World peace must develop from inner peace. Peace is not just mere absence of violence. Peace is the manifestation of human compassion.”

“The creatures that inhabit this earth – be they human beings or animals – are here to contribute, each in its own particular way, to the beauty and prosperity of the world.”

After looking over the footprints that were left by the enlightened few, this nonagenarian traveler returns to the most familiar: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart. . .and love your neighbor as yourself.”

(Mark 12:30-31) Happy New Year to you all!

A Nonagenarian in the Year of the Rat

DAN

PAK

vunc61@gmail.com Last year, the train of life passed through the octogenarian field for this traveler. Now, the landscape of nonagenarians has begun to unfold. Many fellow travelers got off the train during the past 12 months, the year of the Boar. The New Year of 2020 is the year of the Rat, the first in the Chinese zodiac cycle which repeats itself every 12 years.

An animal assigned to each year is said to bring good fortune or success in life to the person born in the year. The rat, normally seen as an obnoxious and pesky critter, is treated with exalted compliments as usual: “”People born in the year of the Rat are

PRISSI SULLIVAN from page 22

and the entire peak was socked in with snow clouds and fog; couldn’t even see the peak, let alone the fireworks. I learned my lesson, I will trudge on no matter how sick or incapacitated I am, pulling along the Husband and the Offspring, no matter how under the weather they are. Afterall, you might only have one chance at an experience.

This year was quiet. We stayed in out of the cold—I caught up on Criminal Minds and The Husband played computer games.

Well, there’s always next year!

instinctive, acute and alert in nature which makes them to be brilliant business men and women. They are also sophisticated and popular in social interaction, sanguine, very adaptable and popular with the others.”

Such a flowery prediction should make expectant mothers happy!

A bit more seriously, at the beginning of a New Year, we should search for the words of wisdom. They are the legacy of the great souls, past and present, in human history.

According to Buddhism, “compassion is an aspiration, a state of mind, wanting others to be free from suffering. It’s not passive — it’s not empathy alone — but rather an empathetic altruism that actively strives to free others from suffering.” It is, then, no wonder that Dalai Lama, Tibetan Buddhist leader, has placed a great deal of emphasis on compassion. He said, “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”

Lao Tzu (604 BC – 531 BC), an ancient Chinese philosopher/writer had left behind the maxims through a book, Tao Te Ching, that are very much applicable to us at present. A few of them are quoted here: “Care about what other people think of you and you will always be their prisoner.”

“Because one believes in oneself, one doesn’t try to convince others. Because one is content with oneself, one doesn’t need others’ approval.”

“At the center of your being, you have the answer: you know who you are.” (Italics denote emphasis.)

Confucius (551 BC – 479 BC), another

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Page 24 January 12, 2020

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COMMENTARY

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Personalized learning: the key to student engagment in independent schools

PATRICK

YURAN

Headmaster OAK MOUNTAIN ACADEMY Have you ever noticed just how hyperconnected the world is today? Just think for a minute about all the devices we use daily in our lives to connect and function... Fitbit, Apple Watch, car navigation/entertainment, Alexa, Echo, Seri, and even home appliances that take notes and talk with you!

According to Frost & Sullivan, by 2020 the customer/stakeholder experience will overtake price and product as the key brand differentiator. This is important to know because it means the biggest challenge we will face in independent education this year is how our brand and product constantly communicates, engages, and excites our stakeholders across multiple channels, formats, and devices.

Because we are so hyperconnected, designing and delivering a personalized learning experience in an authentic manner is key to the long-term continued success of our independent schools.

When designing an authentic, personalized learning experience for each student with their specific needs in mind, the following learning components are modified: content, pacing, sequencing, technology,

and learning spaces. They are adjustable personalized learning approach to education assessment tool. As teachers, we already according to the individual student’s knowl- is the way to ensure a positive, engaging know that in order to teach it – we must stakeholder experi- know it like the back of our hand. So, if a edge, learning By personalizing the educational ence in a variety of student can teach the content effectively, demands, curiosity, experience for the student, we are they have mastered the content. formats. skills, and developFinally, teach digital literacy – even if it In most indemental processing. developing an individual who is literate By personalizing in content and their individual process pendent schools, scares you to death! Today’s students designing a person- already possess advanced technology skills the educational experience for the stu- of learning. . . Personalized learning alized learning pro- and need collaboration with physical/virtual gram is a bit easier partners, media fluency (the ability to interdent, we are develop- starts with the student and asks the ing an individual question, “What does this student need due to the smaller pret media messages and communicate class sizes we offer. effectively in multiple media formats), and who is literate in to know and how can we make this So, here are a few digital citizenship (the responsible use of content and their happen in the best possible way?” of the strategies I technology while engaging with the world). individual process of Tomorrow’s leaders will need this knowlhave used throughlearning. From a business perspective, we are also establish- out my years in independent education that I edge and skill to effectively navigate, analyze, utilize, and create information in a ing the stakeholder’s experience as our key have found useful.

First, give students some choice in their technology-driven society. So, let’s prepare brand differentiator. them today.

This may sound similar to differentiation, learning pathway. It is Tomorrow’s leaders will need Anyone who knows which became a common trend in education possible to allow a stuthis knowledge and me personally, knows made popular in the early 2000s through dent to select the way Carol Ann Tomlinson’s work in the field. they approach an assignskill to effectively navigate, that I love my data points and am a firm However, personalized learning and differ- ment. This is a great analyze, utilize, and believer that data should exercise in time manageentiation are not the same. create information in a drive s t r a t e g y.

In comparison, personalized learning is ment, independent thinkabout creating a curriculum for the student ing, and personal respon- technology-driven society. So, Successful independent schools operate as nonand differentiation is about adapting a cur- sibility. Not only will let’s prepare them today. profit businesses and riculum for the student. Personalized learn- important life skills be ing starts with the student and asks the ques- reinforced, but the student will also be more utilize corporate trends to inform decisiontion, “What does this student need to know engaged in their learning process because of making. So, here are a few statistics to highlight my point of the importance of personaland how can we make this happen in the the ownership they have over it.

Second, allow the students the opportu- ized learning experience. best possible way?” This student-centered According to Gartner’s 2018 Customer approach is built around the idea of recog- nity to teach the class. I know... this sounds nizing that our students are different in many crazy and will require the teacher to give Experience Survey, over 50 percent of comways and, as a result, learn uniquely – not away some “control.” However, the students panies will redirect investments towards cusjust in terms of content, but also in terms of tend to love this approach! In addition to tomer experience innovations.

Accenture’s 2018 Personalization Pule fostering communication and leadership processing.

If Frost & Sullivan are correct, then the skills, this is also an excellent formative See PATRICK YURAN page 27

Center For Allergy & Asthma Of Georgia…

Working To Change Your Quality of Life

Dr. Eugene Hurwitz Sneezing, Coughing, and Wheezing got you down? Do you have Postnasal Drip, an Itchy Nose and Throat, Congestion or a Runny Nose? Are you feeling Hoarse or have an Impaired Sense of Smell? Do you suffer through one Sinus Infection after another?

What about Watery, Itchy, Red or Swollen Eyes? If you have any of these symptoms, please call the CA&A today!

"And spring is just around the corner," explains Dr. Eugene Hurwitz. "So plan and prepare now for allergy shots or allergy drops.

We treat a variety of problems such as Asthma, Sinus, Hives, Eczema, and a variety of allergy problems.”

In addition to worldclass asthma and allergy treatments, CA&A specializes in treating all varieties of allergies and immunological disorders. Dr. Hurwitz is joined by four other board-certified allergists: Dr. John Vickery, Dr. William Boleman, Dr. Neha Kharod and Dr. Adesh Patel. Dr. Kharol, for examples, sees patients in Carrollton, Villa Rica, and Douglasville.

"Each of our physicians cares for both adults and

children with asthma, food related or environmental allergic diseases as well as complex immunological disorders. We are grateful to have such a well-rounded team," Dr. Hurwitz states.

Board Certified Allergists…what does that mean to you?

It means you get specialized care for your specific type of problems so you get well faster and stay well. "All of our care providers work together closely," continues Dr. Hurwitz, "so you receive the uniform and professional care you deserve, no matter which of us you see."

Feeling bad? Call us now…SAME DAY

APPOINTMENTS, if necessary!

"Many people wait too long, and suffer too long, with allergies.

Why suffer needlessly?

We offer the latest advancements in medical and computer technology for maximum comfort and convenience. You will find not only shortterm relief today, but long-term solutions – so you don’t have to keep coming back time after time – whether your problem is sinusrelated, allergies or asthma."

Center for Allergy & Asthma of Georgia has 10 convenient locations: Acworth/ Kennesaw/ Alpharetta, Carrollton, Douglasville,

Huriwitz COLUMN

Griffin, Hiram, Newnan Peachtree City/Fayetteville, Smyrna/Vinings, and Villa Rica. Go to www.caageorgia.com for exact locations, to schedule an appointment, and more information. All appointments can be made by calling 770-459-0620. No

Dr. Kharo

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Look for changes in retirement plans

JOEY KEY

FINANCIAL ADVISOR

It might not have made the headlines, but a recently passed piece of legislation could affect the IRAs and 401(k)s of millions of Americans beginning in 2020. So, if you have either of these accounts, or if you run a business, you’ll want to learn more.

The new laws, collectively called the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, include these noteworthy changes: • Higher age for RMDs – Under current law, you must start taking withdrawals –

known as required minimum distributions, or RMDs – from your traditional IRA and 401(k) or similar employer-sponsored plan once you turn 70 and 1/2. The new law pushes the date to start RMDs to 72, which means you can hold on to your retirement savings a bit longer.

• No age limit for traditional IRA contributions – Previously, you could only contribute to your traditional IRA until you were 70 and 1/2, but under the SECURE Act, you can now fund your traditional IRA for as long as you have taxable earned income.

• Limitation of “Stretch IRA” provisions – Under the old rules, beneficiaries were able to stretch taxable RMDs from a retirement account over his or her lifetime. Under the SECURE Act while

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12/12/2019: Frankie Lee’s, 4921 Carrollton Villa Rica Hwy, Villa Rica

99 previous 100

12/13/2019: Dave’s Meatball Mash Pit, 2742 Millertown Road, Temple 100 previous 100 12/13/2019: Greenway Medical, 100 Greenway Boulevard, Carrollton 99 previous 91 12/13/2019: IHOP, 1615 Highway 27 South, Carrollton

96 previous 99

12/13/2019: Jersey Mike’s Subs, 1670 Highway 27 South, Carrollton

99 previous 100

12/13/2019: Osaka Steak House, 808 Maple Street, Carrollton

94 previous 93

12/16/2019: Domino’s Pizza, 594 Highway 61, Villa Rica

97 previous 98

12/16/2019: Irma’s Tex-Mex and More, 68 Fairfield Road, Villa Rica

100 previous 94

12/16/2019: Papa John’s, 1182 Highway 166 East, Bowdon

100 previous 100

12/16/2019: Suzie’s Wings & Deli, 451 W Bankhead Hwy, Villa Rica

96 previous 99

12/17/2019: Carroll County Training Center, 200 Alton Estes Dr, Carrollton 100 previous 100 12/17/2019: Dre’s Place BBQ & Lemonade, 149 Garrison Ct, Temple 100 previous 99 12/17/2019: O’Charley’s, 921 Moore’s Ferry Road, Villa Rica

93 previous 90

12/17/2019: Papa John’s, 596 Highway 61, Villa Rica

96 previous 95

12/18/2019: Bowdon Coffee Roasters, 140 C City Hall Ave, Bowdon

100 previous 95

12/18/2019: South of Heaven BBQ, 401 Maple Street, Carrollton

99 previous 100

12/19/2019: Olive Tree, 150 Stone Street, Villa Rica

97 previous 98

12/20/2019: Evan’s BBQ Company, 342 West Highway 78, Villa Rica 100 previous 94 12/20/2019: Hibachi Express, 530 Bankhead Highway, Carrollton

99 previous N/A

12/26/2019: El Tapatios Mexican, 40 Villa Rosa Rd, Temple

86 previous 99

12/26/2019: La Finca Mexican Bar/Grill, 727 Bankhead Hwy, Carrollton 92 previous 99 12/26/2019: Villa Rica Senior Center, 646 Industrial, Villa Rica

99 previous 100

12/27/2019: Atl Chicken & Seafood, 816 South Park Street, Carrollton 97 previous 100 12/27/2019: Brookdale Carrollton, 530 Northside Drive, Carrollton

95 previous 99

12/27/2019: Days Inn, 195 Commerce Drive, Villa Rica

93 previous 96

12/27/2019: Dunkin Donuts, 135 Commerce Drive, Villa Rica

95 previous 100

12/27/2019: Hardee’s, 1375 South Park Street, Carrollton

99 previous 100

12/27/2019: Subway, 114 Highway 61, Villa Rica

90 previous 90

12/30/2019: Domino’s Pizza, 1239 Maple Street, Carrollton

96

12/30/2019: Subway, 827 Maple Street, Carrollton

92 previous 94

12/30/2019: Subway, 1725 South Highway 27, Carrollton

89 previous 94

previous 95

12/31/2019: Kong Long Chinese, 82 Highway 61 Connector, Villa Rica 98 previous 99 12/31/2019: Holiday Inn Express, 100 Cooley Way, Villa Rica

98 previous 100

12/31/2019: Waffle House, 197 South Highway 61, Villa Rica

92 previous 98

StarNews

January 12, 2020 Page 25

spouse beneficiaries can still take advantage together to offer employees a 401(k) plan of this “stretch” distribution, most non- with less administrative work, lower costs spouse beneficiaries will have to take all the and fewer fiduciary responsibilities than individual employers RMDs by the end of the Previously, you could only now encounter when tenth year after the account their own owner passes away. contribute to your traditional offering Consequently, non-spouse IRA until you were 70 and 1/2 retirement plans.

• Tax credit for beneficiaries who inherit an . . now fund your traditional automatic enrollment – IRA or other retirement plan could have tax IRA for as long as you have The new law provides a taxable earned income. tax credit of $500 for implications due to the some smaller employers need to take larger who set up automatic enrollment in their distributions in a shorter timeframe.

• No early withdrawal penalty for IRAs retirement plans. And a tax credit for and 401(k)s when new child arrives. establishing a retirement plan has been Typically, you must pay a 10% penalty increased from $500 to $5,000.

• Use of annuities in 401(k) plans – It will when you withdraw funds from your IRA or 401(k) before you reach 59 ?. But now, with now be easier for employers to consider the new rules, you can withdraw up to including annuities as an investment option $5,000 from your retirement plan without within 401(k) plans. Previously, many paying the early withdrawal penalty, as long businesses avoided offering annuities in these as you take the money within one year of a plans due to liability concerns related to the child being born or an adoption becoming annuity provider, but the new rules should help reduce these concerns. final.

The SECURE Act is the most significant Some provisions of the SECURE Act change to our retirement savings system in primarily affect business owners: • Multi-employer retirement plans – over a decade. We encourage you to contact Unrelated companies can now work your financial advisor, tax professional and estate planning attorney to assess the Carroll County potential impact on your investment pistol permits strategies and determine any possible tax and estate planning implications of the SECURE Number of Firearm Permits applied Act. for (carry permit) December 1-31, 2019:

305

Carroll County cattle receipts Carroll County Sales Barn, Carrollton Dec. 16, 2019: 558 Dec. 10, 2019: 100 Dec. 3, 2019: 1,508 Nov. 18, 2019: 538

Joey Key is a financial advisor, Edward Jones, Carrollton, 678-890-1067

Carroll County jail population Total population as of January 7, 2020: 455 Males: 380 Females: 75

Carroll County marriage licenses

Demontrea Ackey, Carrollton, Ga., and Kelsey Folds, Carrollton, Ga. Ronnie Allen, Athens, Ga., Autumn Gazaway, Habersham County, Ga. Zanard Allison, Atlanta, Ga., and Krystal Kelly, Daytona Beach, Fla. Yolanda Bailey, Villa Rica, Ga., and Sammie Bailey, Villa Rica, Ga. Daniel Brooks, Lithia Springs, Ga., and Laura Powell, Atlanta, Ga. Chandwich Brown, Atlanta, Ga., and Ufuoma Chukwuma, Nigeria Kalin Cook, Atlanta, Ga., and Sereana Coats, Conyers, Ga. Kara Duncan, Carrollton, Ga., and Joshua Tinnian, Carrollton, Ga. Ryan Edwards, Carrollton, Ga., and Sarah Richardson, Austell, Ga. Bess Glanton, Carrollton, Ga., and Luke Waters, Carrollton, Ga. Madison Grall, Lithia Springs, Ga., Thomas McQurter, Carrollton, Ga. Jessica Hesler, Carroll County, Ga., and Irish Adams, LaGrange, Ga. James Jackson, Carrollton, Ga., and Dawn Hill, Atlanta, Ga. Jaime Martin, Charlotte, N.C., and Jason Carter, Austell, Ga. Elizabeth McDill, Anniston, Ala., and John Driver, Carrollton, Ga. Roger Moak, Tupelo, Miss., and Melissa Moncus, Carrollton, Ga. Paul Nebergall, Hialeah, Fla., Rhonda Marseli, Clayton County, Ga. James Parmer, Carroll County, Ga., Chelsea Womack, Marietta, Ga. James Potter, Atlanta, Ga., and Megan Whitaker, Austelll, Ga. Emily Powers, Austell, Ga., and Jason Tomberlin, Bainbridge, Ga. Shannon Reid, Villa Rica, Ga., and Eric Crabtree, Jamestown, Tenn.

Kristen Saxon, Alexander City, Ala., and William Wynn, Carrollton, Ga. Daisha Shine, Riverdale, Ga., and Andre Martin, Atlanta, Ga. Timothy Smith, Atlanta, Ga., and Christen Williams, Carrollton, Ga. Thomas Taylor, Anniston, Ala., and Celia Smart, Atlanta, Ga. Michael Temple, Carrollton, Ga., and Sarah Mooney, Atlanta, Ga. Laurence Webb, Leon, Iowa, and Jan McLendon, Carrollton, Ga.

Page 26 January 12, 2020

StarNews

www.starnewsgaonline.com

Jones-Wynn Funeral Home held their 20th Annual Rememberance Services

ELLEN & SCOTT

McBRAYER JONES-WYNN FUNERAL HOME On November 14th and again on November 19th, Jones-Wynn Funeral Homes and Crematory held their 20th annual Remembrance Services in the Douglas Chapel and Villa Rica Chapel, respectively.

The Remembrance Service began when the late Charles Wynn and his wife Dana felt that they, and families, needed a time to gather and remember beyond the early days of loss and grieving.

Dana Wynn shared, “Charles and I wanted a time for memories, a time to reflect. We envisioned a moment in time when we could join others in looking back and acknowledge that when you love, and you experience loss, there is tremendous pain, but it is the price we pay for our eternal love. Grief is an unwanted journey, a path that often feels lonely. Joining others who are traveling that path can soothe the soul and provide comfort. We believed that a service full of love, hope and healing, not a reminder of the funeral or memorial service, could be a time to hope, heal, and remember. Sometimes the warmth of a loving memory can bring light

to what may seem a dark path forward. The fellowship of others on that path can provide courage, strength, and support.”

The 2019 Remembrance Services preceded the holiday season with an important message of hope, love, and sweet memories.

Families arrived to light refreshments and the warm embrace of friendship and compassion. Ellen Wynn McBrayer shared heartfelt words of encouragement, courage, and gratitude for all in attendance. Kelli Blankenship and Jeff Pate lit candles representing loved ones, hope, and love. Scott McBrayer invited the children present to join him as he read a grief book for children titled, The Invisible String, by Patrice Karst.

Reverend Jim Grimmie spoke sincerely of the emotional challenges of the coming holidays. He shared a message of peace, memories, remembering, surviving and having the courage to try. Then an on-screen Remembrance presentation included inspiring music as loved ones names appeared and families stood in their honor.

A glass memorial keepsake ornament was presented in memory of each life remembered and holiday focused grief help books were given. There were tears, hugs, smiles, and a true sense of warmth, love, and togetherness at night’s end.

Jones-Wynn Funeral Homes and Crematory have been serving families since its founding as Jones Funeral Home by Clyde and Shirley Jones in 1950.

We provide funeral and memorial serv-

baby VILLA RICA

PIC of cemetary ices, burial, on-site crematory, veteran services, advance planning, and grief support.

Jones-Wynn is a third generation of a family serving families. The Douglas Chapel is located at 2189 Midway Road, Douglasville, GA 30135 and can be reached at 770.942.2311. In Villa Rica the location is 306 Westview Drive, Villa Rica, GA 30180 and the number is 770.459.3694.

Meadowbrook Memory Gardens is located at 1100 Hickory Level Road, Villa Rica, GA 30180. The number is 770.459.6494. Jones-

Wynn can be found online at joneswynn.com.

As always, we remain “A Family Serving Families®....Since 1950” Please feel free to contact Scott or Ellen Wynn McBrayer at Jones-Wynn Funeral Homes & Crematory and Meadowbrook Memory Gardens with any questions. 770459-3694, 770-942-2311, or 770-459-6494 www.jones-wynn.com www.facebook.com/MeadowbrookMemor yGardens

baby CARROLLTON

Tanner Medical Center Villa Rica welcomes its “First Baby”

Tanner Medical Center Carrollton welcomes its “First Baby”

Shown above are Carrie and Justin Ward as they hold their newborn daughter Carrie Renee who was delivered at 11:21 a.m. Wednesday, January 1, 2020, at Tanner Medical Center in Villa Rica. Carrie was a week early, weighing 7 pounds, 5.4 ounces, 18.5 inches in length. Baby Carrie is the couple’s fifth child - all girls! - following big sisters Caydence, 10; Alison, 9; Vallory, almost 3; and Sarah Michelle, 2. The couple recently moved to Villa Rica from Waco. Being experienced with childbirth, the couple knew Mom’s labor — which began around 3 a.m. New Year’s Day — was the real deal and headed to the hospital. The nurses at Tanner Medical Center/Villa Rica presented the couple with a special gift basket to celebrate the hospital’s first baby of the decade! Photo and information submitted by Tanner Health Systems

Shown above are Karen Miguel and Sergio Chavez as they hold baby Janet.

The Carrollton couple delivered their daughter, Janet, at 9:16 a.m. on Wednesday, January 1, 2020, at Tanner Medical Center in Carrollton. Baby Janet was 6 pounds, 10 ounces, and just more than 19 inches in length. She’s the couple’s first baby. Miguel said the arrival came as “a surprise,” since Janet wasn’t expected until January 3rd. The delivery went well and mom and baby are doing great. Kristy Nix, MD, with Carrollton OB/GYN delivered the baby.

The nurses at Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton presented the couple with a special gift basket for Janet to celebrate the hospital’s first baby of the decade! Photo and information submitted by Tanner Health Systems

www.starnewsgaonline.com ers to approve a five-year extension to the current 2018 SPLOST in March 2020. mer of 2020 are turf fields and track repairs “The projects,” stated Jones will be identiat Mount Zion High School and Bowdon fied in time for voters to see the list in the High School. spring of 2020.

Bus purchases, technology, band and fine SPLOST proceeds can be used only to arts equipment throughout the entire sched- fund capital outlay (major projects which are ule are planned for spring of 2020. of a permanent, long lived nature, such as In looking ahead, Carroll County Board of land and structures) projects. With some Education has several exceptions, SPLOST projects in their Carroll County schools will proceeds may not be sights: Bay Springs be asking voters to approve used for maintenance Middle School renoa five-year extension to the and operation costs vation and modificarelated to the proposed current 2018 SPLOST in tion for 2020-21, SPLOST projects or any Villa Rica High March 2020. ..With some previously approved School classroom projects or for the retireexceptions, SPLOST addition is slated for ment of existing school proceeds may not be 2020-21, Sharp Creek system general obligaused for maintenance and tion debt incurred for Elementary School improvements are taroperation costs related to capital outlay projects, geted for 2021-22, with the requirement that the proposed SPLOST and a possible ad valorem property projects or any previously Providence taxes must be reduced approved projects or for Elementary School by an amount equal to the retirement of existing the proceeds applied to addition, Glanton Hindsman Elementary debt retirement. school system general School connectors, The primary intent obligation debt incurred for parking lot and other behind SPLOST is to capital outlay projects. . . facility improvements pay for specifically enuthroughout the county merated projects, not to school system are being discussed. balance the government’s books or to pay for Carroll County schools will be asking vot- other governmental expenses.

SPLOST #6 NOVEMBER from front page

Carroll County School System now enrolling for 2020-2021 school year from press release Carroll County School System has announce that enrollment has begun for grades K-12 for the 2020-2021 school year.

Pre-K enrollment will begin February 24, 2020.

“We are always excited when we have the opportunity to welcome new students into the Carroll County family,” said Jennifer Shirley, Director of Elementary Education.

“With innovative learning opportunities at all grade levels and schools that are recognized among the best in the state for academic performance, Carroll County is a premier choice for all students.”

Enrollment is easy. Visit the Student Registration Office at 164 Independence Drive in Carrollton. Remember to bring

these important documents: - Certified Birth Certificate - Student Social Security Card Two Proofs of Residency (Mortgage/Lease, Document of Government Assistance, Current Vehicle Registration, and Bank Statements) - Parent/Legal Guardian Photo ID - Guardianship Paper (if applicable) - DHR Immunization Form 3231 and Vision, Hearing, Dental, and Nutrition Form 3300 must be submitted by May 1, 2020 The staff at the Student Registration Office will be happy to answer any questions you may have at 678.854.2302. Carroll County School System is proud to offer our community access to Premier Teachers, Premier Leaders, and Premier Schools.

SOUTHWIRE from front page

00189-TCB) against “JOHN DOE, In Possession of Stolen Southwire Confidential Information, Thereby Injuring Southwire and Its Customers, Clients, and Vendors”. First Count is “Violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (18 U.S.C. 1030) The complaint states: “On information and belief, the fictiously named Defendent is responsible for the occurences herein alleged...”

The complaint states: “Ransomware us a type of malicious software, or malware, designed to deny access to a computer system or data until a ransom is paid. “ The complaint states: “Southwire learned of the unauthorized access to and exfiltration of its data when a variant of ransomware software known as “Maze Ransomware” was executed. . .”

The complaint states: “Plaintiff communicated with Defendent about recovering the stolen information, and Defendent continued to request a ransom payment in exchange for not releasing Plaintiff’s confidential and sensitive information on the Public Internet.”

gate. The global company has 34 plants and 10 Customer Service Centers located around the world.

Jason Pollard, vice president of Talent Acquistion and Communication, spoke with StarNews to give an update to the cyber situation. “We’re back to normal,” Pollard said, “and have been for some time. We’re up and running at full capacity.”

Pollard would not offer whether the FBI is involved in the investigation, or how far along the investigation might be, stating only that it was ongoing and he could not comment.

When asked how management and employee attitude was in the wake of this serious situation, Pollard said “very positive”.

“We really have a sense of family and teamwork, and that has pulled us though,” he said.

On December 31, 2019, Southwire Company, LLC, filed a complaint in the United States District Court Northern District of Georgia Newnan Division (Case 3-19-cv-

PATRICK YURAN from page 24

Check found that 81% of consumers want brands to understand them better and know when to and when not to approach them.

NAIS and SAIS data trend reports over the past 10 years support both of the abovementioned data points.

Independent schools who have redirected resources into streamlining processes to create a more efficient and personalized stakeholder experience, for both parents and students, have shown increases in donor contributions and enrollment.

In 2019, the Forrester Wave Report stated that 94% of marketers are focusing on their data and analytics capabilities, personalization technologies and customer profile data

StarNews

January 12, 2020 Page 27

management capabilities to deliver personalized customer experiences. Since the research shows that stakeholder experiences will be the key brand differentiator over price and product in the corporate world of sales, we must take notice and respond accordingly from the world of independent education.

As independent schools evolve to meet the ever-changing desires of parents and the hyper-connected needs of students, designing personalized learning experiences, for both parents and students, is key. The long-term, continued success of independent schools is at risk if we choose not to evolve and deliver personalized growth opportunities for each of our students. After all, what experience would you prefer for your child?

“We Are Here ALL Year Long For Your Tax, Bookkeeping, & Payroll Needs.”

NO Up Front Fees Early Season LOANS Available Extended Hours

10%RWB Off Tax Tax Preparation

Donna, Gerald and Chuck

770-456-9980

363 West Bankhead Hwy, Villa Rica

Mon.-Fri. 9am-6pm • Sat. 9am-1pm

www.rwbtax.com

Becky Gentry Travels

A double dose of fun…..YES!

This summer Disney cruisers will enjoy not one, but two stops at Castaway Cay! What makes Castaway Cay so special? There are uniquely designed areas for kids, adults, and families! Explore the island by bike, choose a new water adventure, soak up the sun on a white sandy island beach, and so much more!

Everything you need for a perfect day at the beach is included, even an all you can eat buffet lunch!

Contact me for your FREE, no obligation quote

Becky Gentry 404-291-1187

b.gentry@magicalvacationplanner.com

Page 28 January 12, 2020

StarNews www.starnewsgaonline.com