StarNews July 2020 Issue

StarNews

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

NEWS REPORTING / NEWS RECAP / NEWS ANALYSIS

JULY 2020 • VOLUME 26 NUMBER 7

County: state court judge and state representative District 28 Runoff Candidates STATE COURT JUDGE

Met Lane

Erica Tisinger

Runoff Candidates STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 18

What HB 426 means

On June 26th, 2020, Governor Brian Kemp signed a bill that creates new protections for victims of biasmotivated crimes in Georgia. House Jason Swindle Bill 426 (HB 426) became law July 1st. The bill had overwhelming bi-partisan support. The full Senate approved the hate crimes bill with a 47-6 vote. The House then approved it 127-38.

Every state currently has a hate crimes

See JASON SWINDLE page 6

“If I go out like I came in, naked and broke, it will have

been a great trip” - columnist Ed Wilson - page 22

Broadband speed internet to expand, finally, into parts of rural West GA 125 miles of fiber network: 7300 residents, 200 farms/businesses, one school, four fire stations to finally receive broadband speed internet access

story and photos by Prissi Sullivan A celebratory event was held at the Mill Town Music Hall in Bremen on Thursday morning, June 25, 2020 to hail the broadband deployment efforts by

SyncGlobal and Carroll Electric Membership Cooperative in expanding broadband technology to a wide area of rural West Georgia and East Alabama.

See RURAL INTERNET page 14

Chair of county public health gives update on local impact of CoVID19

See HATE CRIMES LAW page 6

submitted by Jason Swindle, attorney member, Board of Governors State Bar of Georgia

times” - columnist Pastor Derick Newton - page 21

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

Historic “hate crimes” Early voting begins for bill passes; governor Aug. 11 Runoff Election signs HB 426 into law Two runoff elections in Carroll Governor Kemp: “Georgia is a state too great to hate” from press release Governor Brian P. Kemp, Lieutenant Governor Duncan, and Speaker David Ralston issued the following statements following the signing of HB 426: Governor Kemp “Today we took an important, necessary step forward for Georgia. We stood together as fellow Georgians to affirm one simple but powerful motto: Georgia is a state too great to hate,” said Governor Kemp. “The signing of HB 426 is a sign of

“We are in some of the most publicized, turbulent

Cason Hightower

Tyler Paul Smith

by Prissi Sullivan The Carroll County Primary Election Runoff will be held Tuesday, August 11th, with early voting beginning Monday, July 20th and ending Friday, August 7th. This runoff will have two contested races: state court judge for the Coweta Judicial Circuit (a five county district which includes Carroll County) and state representative for District 18 (parts of Carroll and Haralson counties). The winner of the state court seat will become the next court judge. The winner of the state representative seat will go on to the November General Election and face the Democrat candidate Pat Rhudy, U.S. Census Bureau field representative.

The non-partisan state court seat is between two Carroll County attorneys Met Lane and Erica Tisinger. The state representative seat is See RUNOFF AUGUST 11th page 10

Dr. Laura Larson, chair, Carroll County Board of Health: “This is an amazing scary time” “Wear your masks”

by Prissi Sullivan and Sue Horn Dr. Laura Larson, chair of the Carroll County Board of Health and Infectious Disease Specialist for Tanner Health System, addressed the Carrollton Kiwanis Club on June 19, 2020 at the Courtyard Marriott in Carrollton. She spoke on the status of the COVID-19 pandemic and

how it related to the local community.

Dr. Larson, medical director of infection prevention for Tanner Health System, is board-certified in both infectious diseases and internal medicine. She earned her medical degree from the Mercer University School of Medicine and com-

See COVID & CARROLL page 7

Proposed rock quarry in Whitesburg meets well-organized opposition “Citizens Opposed to Carroll County Rock Quarry” have organized and are carrying out a series of actions to promote awareness/danger of quarry

Opportunity to prevent this type development was drawn up March 2011 under watch of then chairman Bill Chappell in form of “Zoning Ordinance Draft”

Since that short period of time since the

by Sue Horn application, a group of Whitesburg area On September 19, 2019, a Conceptual Site Plan was drawn for a 360+- acre rock See NO QUARRY page 29 quarry to be located bordering Black Dirt Road in Whitesburg (near Byers WGTC annual “Black Crossroads) on one side and the Tie & Boots” fundraiser Chattahoochee River on another side (see drawing page 29). The plan was drawn up will be held Oct. 2nd at

by Black Rock Consulting, LLC, Buffalo Creek Tech Dunwoody Park, Atlanta, for Green Rock, LLC, Norcross, Georgia, and was submitPark: open general ted for consideration this past June along admission tickets with a DRI Application (Developments of see story page 8 Regional Impact).

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9th Please remember to VOTE in theJune Runoff Election on AUGUST 11th

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Experience Matters

SUSTAINING LIFE SMALLER GOVERNMENT STRONGER BUSINESS

StarNews July 12, 2020 Page 3

I am running for election to the 18th District of the Georgia House of Representatives on a conservative agenda and pledge to fight for smaller government, sustaining life, protecting our values and fueling a stronger economy. I believe my work, alongside many others, will make West Georgia and our State a better place to live, work and raise a family.

Residents ALL over Carroll & Haralson Counties are endorsing our campaign.

EARLY VOTING BEGINS JULY 20TH VOTE AUGUST 11TH

Page 4 July 12, 2020

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Highlight of key bills passed by 2020 Legislative Session of the Georgia General Assemby from press release by Georgia Watch lcoyle@georgiawatch.org The 2020 Legislative Session of the Georgia General Assembly ended at midnight on Friday, June 26. Some bills being following closely to help Georgians through the current ongoing financial and public health crisis passed, including legislation to end surprise medical bills and better regulate small dollar loans. Other bills, however, did not pass in the final hours of Sine Die. • Surprise Medical Bill Legislation Passed: The Surprise Billing Consumer Protection Act, Senate Bill 359 and House Bill 888 introduced by Senator Chuck Hufstetler (R - 52) and Representative Lee Hawkins (R - 27) respectively, passed both chambers. The Act aims to take patients out of the middle of billing disputes between providers and insurers. With the passage of HB 888 in the Senate this month, the Act now heads to Governor Kemp’s desk for his signature.

• Legislation to Establish an All Payer Claims Database Passed: Senate Bill 482, sponsored by Senator Dean Burke (R - 11), builds on Georgia’s new surprise billing legislation (HB 888). HB 888 authorizes Georgia’s Department of Insurance to establish an all payer claims database (APCD) that will inform the surprise billing payment resolution process.

APCDs can be a powerful tool that can also help policymakers, stakeholders, and advocates develop better understandings of health care costs, use of services, population trends, and disparities.

SB 482 goes farther than HB 888 by setting up an advisory body to assist in the crea-

tion of the APCD and establishing the purposes of the APCD, among other provisions.

The advisory body does not currently include consumer representation. The creation of Georgia’s APCD is subject to appropriations. It was not funded in the FY2021 budget but state leaders have expressed optimism about funding it in future state budgets and attracting private funds to help support its development.

• Bill to Strengthen Protections in Small Dollar Lending Passed: Senator John Kennedy’s Senate Bill 462 passed both chambers. This bill continues previous efforts to shift regulatory authority of industrial loans, also known as small-dollar loans, from the Industrial Loan Commissioner to the Department of Banking and Finance. SB 462 strengthens consumer protections in Georgia by employing more robust licensing and reporting requirements for installment lenders. The bill heads to the Governor’s desk for signature.

• Nominal Tax on Vaping Passed: Representative Bonnie Rich (R - 97) introduced House Bill 864, which would add a 7% excise tax to vaping products and would require businesses that sell vaping products to register with the state for a $250 fee. On June 25, the House agreed to an amended version that merged HB 864 into Senate Bill 375, sponsored by Senator Jeff Mullis (R 53). As a result of the merger, SB 375 will increase the purchase age for tobacco products to 21; implement robust licensing requirements for businesses that wish to sell vaping products;and place a nominal tax of 5 cents per ML on vaping products. SB 375 passed the Senate and is heading to the gov-

ernor’s desk for signature.

• Bill to Extend Medicaid Coverage Post-Partum Passed: House Bill 1114, sponsored by Representative Sharon Cooper (R - 43), passed with full funding ($19.7 million) in the updated version of the FY21 budget. The bill will allow new mothers to receive Medicaid coverage for six months after giving birth. Currently, pregnant

women receiving Medicaid are covered only up to 60 days after they give birth or miscarry. The bill will ensure that many new mothers do not go without health insurance during the critical post-partum period when maternal health is at greatest risk. The bill heads to the Governor’s desk for signature.

Georgia Watch, 55 Marietta Street NW, Suite 903, Atlanta, GA 30303

from press release Georgia Justice Project / GJP.org Senate Bill 288, an effort lead by Georgia Justice Project (GJP) and the Second Chance for Georgia Campaign, passed both the Georgia House and Senate unanimously and is now on its way to the Governor’s desk to be signed into law. SB 288 expands access to criminal record restriction and sealing in Georgia – a process most states call “expungement.”

This new law will give a second chance to thousands of Georgians who want to work but are held back by their criminal history.

Georgia has the highest rate of correctional control – prison, jail, probation or parole – in the country. 4.3 million people have a Georgia criminal history – 40% of adults.

Under current Georgia law, almost all convictions stay on a person’s record forever, creating lifetime barriers to employment, housing and other opportunities.

This law will align Georgia with 41 other states that allow a person to remove some convictions from their criminal record after a period of conviction-free years.

Sen. Tonya Anderson (D-Lithonia) and Rep. Houston Gaines (R-Athens) both understood the need for change and worked together to get SB 288 passed (pictured).

According to GJP Executive Director Douglas B. Ammar, “GJP has been committed to second chances for Georgians for over 30 years, including 15 years of advocating for expanding our state’s expungement law.

We’ve brought together legislators, partner organizations, employers and directly affected people across the state to make this effort a reality. We’d like to personally thank all of our partners and sponsors for supporting this critically important bill and we applaud state leaders for their vision and belief in second chances. This is a big day for Georgia and a huge win for all Georgians!”

SB 288 will allow rehabilitated individuals to petition the court to have certain misdemeanor convictions restricted and sealed four years after the completion of their sentence, provided they have no new convictions and no pending charges. Certain offenses would be excluded from restriction and sealing,

Bill to expand access to sealed criminal records passed: the “expungement process”

See EXPUNGED page 16

THE CONSERVATIVE CHOICE FOR STATE Met COURT LaneJUDGE “Join me in voting for Met Lane for State Court Judge” Coach Ronnie Burchfield

CONSERVATIVE CONGRESSMAN LYNN WESTMORELAND ENDORSES MET “Met, by growing up in Carroll County, is the only true conservative who has experience in both prosecution and defense law.”

EARLY VOTING BEGINS JULY 20TH

VOTE AUGUST 11TH

Vote

MET

LEARN MORE ABOUT MET LANE! MetLaneforJudge.com facebook.com/votemetlane

678-416-0192

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JASON SWINDLE from front page

law with the exceptions of Arkansas, South Carolina, and Wyoming.

The day after Kemp signed HB 426, the Arkansas Senate distributed a news release regarding their on a hate crimes bill before their legislative session ends. Additionally, some legislators in South Carolina are calling for a hate crimes law. I expect that both of these states will have a law very soon.

In Georgia, the hate crimes law provides sentencing guidelines for anyone found guilty of intentionally targeting a victim because of their actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender, mental disability, or physical disability.

If a person is found guilty of committing a hate crime as it relates to these protected classes would face an additional sentence of six months to a year and a fine of up to $5,000 for one of five misdemeanor offenses

HATE CRIMES LAW from front page

progress and a milestone worth applauding.

This legislation will enhance public safety and ensure that justice is served for all Georgians - regardless of race, gender, religion, nationality, or sexual orientation. Today we reaffirmed our desire to put progress ahead of politics. While this legislation does not right every wrong, it is an important step, and we will continue to do our part as state leaders to ensure that Georgia is a place where all people can live, learn, and prosper.

Working together, will continue to fight for fairness and do the right thing - even when no one is watching.”

“At a time when our nation feels so divided, this day is one of unity,” said Lt. Governor Duncan. “I am incredibly proud of

In 2000, Georgia’s first hate crimes law and at least two years for a felony offense.

The hate crimes bill also mandates law was created. But, on October 25th, 2004, the enforcement to report and collect data when Supreme Court of Georgia unanimously they investigate crimes that appear to be hate struck down the four year old law. The crimes, whether or found guilty of committing a Court found that the law was unconstitutionally not an arrest is hate crime. . . would face an vague. made.

Last week, a additional sentence of six months Regarding the new Senate committee to a year . . . fine of up to $5,000. . law, Governor Kemp said, “Today, we reafadded protections . The hate crimes bill also firmed our desire to put for law enforcement mandates law enforcement to progress ahead of poliofficers. However, report and collect data. . . that tics. While this legislathe committee moved the police appear to be hate crimes, whether tion does not right every wrong, it is an important protection provision, or not an arrest is made step, and we will conwhich includes adding a five year sentence for killing a police tinue to do our part as state leaders to ensure that Georgia is a place where all people can officer, into House Bill 838.

The sentencing enhancements in both bills live, learn, and prosper.”

I spoke to Coweta Judicial Circuit District can involve jail, prison, and/or probation.

Interestingly, this is not the first time that Attorney Herb Cranford about the hate crimes bill. The Coweta Judicial Circuit Georgia has had a hate crimes law. includes Carroll, Coweta, Troup, the General Assembly’s collaborative effort, Meriwether, and Heard counties. He said, which produced a strong hate crimes bill that “While I would have liked to see this bill protects people in targeted groups and sends include stiffer penalties and first responders a strong statement about our values. I know as a protected class, I fully support this we will build upon today’s accomplishment bipartisan legislation, which appropriately and continue to work toward meaningful enhances punishment for a defendant who targets a victim because of the victim’s race, change for all Georgians.”

“On this historic day, we have made it religion, disability, etc.

“Enhancing punishment based on a defenclear that Georgia rejects hate,” said Speaker dant’s specific intention when committing a David Ralston. “House Bill 426, a bipartisan crime is not a new concept in the law. By piece of legislation, demonstrates that Georgia is a welcoming state to each and properly enhancing punishment, the citizens every person regardless of their race, relig- of Georgia are served by ensuring that a ion, gender or sexual orientation. I want to defendant’s punishment is proportional to applaud the hard work of Chairman Chuck the defendant’s intention in committing a Efstration and Dean of the House, Calvin crime. For example, homicide is punished Smyre, on this bill and thank them for their very differently depending on whether the defendant was negligent (involuntary manwork.”

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slaughter), was responding to a provocation (voluntary manslaughter), or was malicious (murder).

“My office will not utilize the hate crimes law just because a victim and defendant happen to be different races, genders, religions, etc. To do so would be an injustice to those victims who are truly targeted based on hate.

“The reasoning behind Georgia’s Gang Statute and HB 426 are similar. Just as my office only pursues gang charges when the evidence shows that a gang member committed a crime with a specific intention related to their gang, my office will only pursue hate crimes charges when the evidence shows that the victim was targeted specifically because of his or her race, religion, sexual orientation, etc. Just as my office prosecutes gang crimes, will seek confinement for any conviction under the hate crimes law.”

I also spoke with Douglas Judicial Circuit District Attorney Ryan Leonard. He told me, “The passage of HB 426 is a welcome change as it brings Georgia law in line with the vast majority of other states in offering these added protections. This law will now be available in the instances where a discernible bias is the reason for the underlying conduct. That being said, the public needs to temper their expectations with regard to the utilization of this provision. Clearly, the mere fact that an aggressor and victim are of different races or sexual orientations does not mean that the statute automatically applies. Extrinsic evidence of bias as a motivating factor would be needed, for example in the form of verbal or written statements, as a window into a perpetrator’s intent.”

For a complete reading of the new law, go to http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/enUS/Display/20192020/HB/426

www.starnewsgaonline.com COVID & CARROLL from front page

pleted her residency and fellowship at Shands Hospital at the University of Florida.

She is currently the chair of the Carroll County Board of Health, having been appointed November 13, 2014 by the Carroll County Board of Commissioners.

This was the first in-person meeting for the club since the historic sheltering-in-place order was issued by the governor midMarch. The approximate 35 club members were spaced four to a table in the hotel’s large conference room, instead of the usual elbow-to-elbow long table seating at their regular meeting place, Hubbard Room, at the University of West Georgia.

Tanner saw their first cases of COVID-19 at their Carrollton hospital in mid-March of 2020. “This is an amazing, scary time,” Dr. Larson began as she addressed the mostly unmasked audience. “But, there was no patient zero.”

She explained, “Eight people came in on the first day, so there was no ‘patient zero’ here. We expected 15 to 20 new cases a day and were anticipating a supply shortage.”

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was expected to run out in a month. Facilities were broken into and robbed of PPEs. “We had to extend their use,” she explained. “Still, we ran out of gowns and wipes.”

The older section of the Carrollton hospital (built in 1949) was set up as the COVID19 ward, because the air could be vented to the outside. Robots with ultra-violet capacity were used to sterilize the rooms. The twelve ICU beds were increased to eighteen.

Tanner Carrollton has 12 beds in ICU for COVID-19 patients, Villa Rica has six, and Higgins General in Bremen has two. “We can build a new ward if necessary,” said Larson. “It won’t be pretty, but it will be functional. It has been much like building a plane as you’re flying in it.”

On the day of this meeting, Tanner had 584 reported cases,. There had been 34 total reported deaths.

According to Larson, everyone who needed a ventilator got one and no surgical ventilators had to be used. The number of cases a day had decreased to five or so, but the number had been rising the previous three weeks, as Georgia entered into Phase 1 out of sheltering-in-place.

Carroll County increased by 100 COVID19 cases from May 25 - June 25, 2020. On this day, Tanner had 90 in-house tests to be used for inpatients. These tests can produce results in an hour. The rest of the testing is done through Lab Corp. About 30% of the tests are showing false negatives, Larson stated.

“Most of the infections are appearing in clusters,” explained Larson, “in families and resulting from communal meetings.” She also stated that health workers are expecting a spike from the recent national and local protests.

Most infections seem to be occurring from being out and about in the community without a mask.

“CoVID is like Russian Roulette,” said Dr. Larson, “We can’t tell who has it and can’t identify who will get it. Everyone should wear a mask when out in public. It stops a lot of the particulates and is certainly better than no protection at all.”

She likened the importance of wearing a mask to a swim diaper a toddler would wear in a swimming pool: “It may not keep everything out, but it keepsthe importan stuff out.”

The antibody tests—to determine if a per- Most patients have underlying health son has already had the virus—are not par- issues—diabetes, heart condition, lung probticularly sensitive. “I’ve never seen anything lems, or high blood pressure. In addition, like this,” declared Larson. “This virus does- people in a residential facility are more at n’t follow any of the risk. Most deaths “This virus is like Russian rules.” have occurred in Insofar as keeping Roulette,” said Dr. Larson, “We can’t the 70 to 75 year up with the nunbers of tell who has it and can’t identify who old demographic. infected and deaths, will get it. Everyone should wear a Although, Larson the Center for Disease said they have had Control (CDC) in mask when out in public. It stops a 13 cases in Atlanta is lagging in its lot of the particulates and is certainly patients 18 years reporting. old or younger. better than no protection at all.”

The recommended Tanner Health website for accurate information is the System has held meetings with directors of Department of Public Health: nursing homes and apprising them of dph.georgia.gov/covid-19-daily-statusTanner’s protocols. report “We can’t mandate what the nursing The DPH website also contains graphs homes do,” declared Larson; “just consult.” and breakdowns of cases.

Most area nursing home have kept resiOn June 19th, Tanner had 34 active cases. dents in their rooms and have allowed no

StarNews

July 12, 2020 Page 7

visitors.

Dr. Larson advised everyone to practice social distancing and to wear a mask. “Social distancing is our vaccine,” she said. “Most of the spread of the virus comes from long exposure to the respiratory droplets. Any grouping can cause spread. Yelling and talking can aerosolize the droplets, which makes the spread easier.”

Tanner received the drug remdesivir, an antiviral, around the first week of June.

Patients are also being treated with plasma therapy—a process wherein plasma from COVID-19 survivors is injected into the ill patient in order to start the immune response.

The Willowbrooke Behavioral Healthcare facility (part of the Tanner Health System) in Villa Rica has counselors available. Fortyfour percent of healthcare workers suffer from depression.

Southwire

See WEAR MASKS page 11

Page 8 July 12, 2020

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Carrollton Board of Education to hold millage rate the same; taxes will still increase due to increase in reassessment values from press release The City of Carrollton Board of Education announced intention to hold its millage, or tax, rate the same for the fourth consecutive year, although this action will still result in an increase of the 2020 property taxes levied this year by 2.74 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 a reassessment.

When the total digest of taxable property is prepared, Georgia law requires that a rollback millage rate must 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.

PUBLIC HEARINGS ON TAX INCREASE to be held at 106 Trojan Dr Carrollton

• 8:00 AM Thursday, August 6th • 6:00 PM Tuesday, August 11th The budget adopted by the City of Carrollton Board of Education requires a millage rate higher than the rollback millage rate, therefore, before the City of Carrollton Board of Education may set a final millage rate, Georgia law requires three public hearings to be held to allow the public an opportunity to express their opinions on the increase.

All concerned citizens are invited to the public hearings on this tax increase to be held at the City of Carrollton Board of Education Board Room, 106 Trojan Drive, Carrollton, GA 30117 on Tuesday July 7, 2020 at 6:00 p.m.

Times and places of additional public hearings on this tax increase are at City of Carrollton Board of Education Board Room, 106 Trojan Drive, Carrollton, Georgia 30117 on Thursday Aug. 6, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. and Tuesday Aug. 11, 2020 at 6:00 p.m.

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WGTC annual “Black Tie & Boots” Saturday Pick Up Upon Request fundraiser will be held Oct. 2nd at Buffalo Creek Tech Park: open 6990 Five Notch Rd • Franklin, Georgia general admission tickets Monday to Friday Country music artist Sawyer Brown to perform from press release The West Georgia Technical College Foundation has announced that long-time country music favorite Sawyer Brown will perform at its annual Black Tie & Boots concert October 2, 2020. The Foundation is excited to host this year’s event outdoors at Buffalo Creek Technology Park - the site of the new WGTC Carroll Campus, and for the first time in a long time, open general admission ticket sales to the public.

“We’re grateful to the Carroll County Development Authority, as well as to county and city officials, for helping us to move the event outdoors and to a new date. We made this decision in the best interest of everyone’s safety and comfort considering COVID-19 restrictions. We will take every measure to prioritize safety, including offering additional handwashing and hand sanitizer stations and implementing best practices in live entertainment and food service,” WGTC Foundation Executive Director Kelsey Jones said. “We are also thrilled to include more of the community, this year, through general admission ticket sales that will open in mid-August.”

Sawyer Brown joins the long and starstudded list of country music performers who have taken the stage at this annual event, including Blake Shelton, Little Big Town, Wynonna & the Big Noise, Lonestar, and last year’s performer, Craig Morgan.

Since their debut on “Star Search” in the early 1980’s, Sawyer Brown has released 23 studio albums with more than 50 chart singles. In addition to the band’s success on country radio, the group has taken home CMA, ACM, CMT and MCN awards.

However, Sawyer Brown is most known for their wildly entertaining live performances,

having played more than 4,500 shows across the world.

Besides boasting a talented headliner, Black Tie & Boots offers VIP packages so that guests have the opportunity to support the WGTC Foundation while enjoying dinner, drinks, and dancing. All proceeds of the event benefit WGTC Foundation’s mission that includes providing for its Gap Funding program, need-based student scholarships and general support to West Georgia Technical College. Opportunities for partnership, which include access to the VIP area and reserved concert seating, are now available.

WGTC President Dr. Scott Rule said he is thankful for the continued support that has made Black Tie & Boots a community favorite over the past 19 years. Last year was the most profitable Black Tie & Boots event to date, with over $61,000 in support provided to the WGTC Foundation.

“West Georgia Tech is so fortunate to have such influential community and business leaders as advocates and supporters,” Rule said. “We work every day to ensure we are preparing tomorrow’s skilled employees to meet the needs of these businesses and industries. Black Tie & Boots, our signature annual event, is one way for us to recognize and thank them for that support. With food, music, and fellowship, it’s a great time for everyone.”

For more information about the event, please contact WGTC Foundation Executive Director Kelsey Jones at kelsey.jones@westgatech.edu or 404.807.2038.

More information is available online at www.westgatech.edu/black-tie-boots.

For more information, please visit www.westgatech.edu

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July 12, 2020 Page 9

University to return to “face-to-face” instruction for fall semester from press release The University of West Georgia is preparing for the full return of students, faculty, and staff to campus in August for in-person instruction for the Fall 2020 semester.

UWG continues to work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Georgia Department of Public Health, and the University System of Georgia to comply with directives and guidelines to safeguard students, faculty, staff and visitors and reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19 on its campus.

“While online instruction is effective and important to maintain as an option for our students, we know the value of an in-person higher education experience, and it is important to see our students continue to grow in that environment beginning in August,” said Dr. Brendan Kelly, president of UWG, in a video address to the campus community.

Beginning June 15, UWG faculty and staff began a phased return to on-campus operations to prepare for the full reopening in August. UWG utilized seven working groups made up of cross-functional personnel to develop this approach, and these teams continue to work collaboratively to begin implementing the plan across the university.

Due to the fluidity of the COVID-19 pandemic, plans are subject to change, and UWG has developed contingency plans should it be necessary to shift back to remote delivery of instruction at any point during the semester. The full plan can be accessed on UWG’s website here.

WGTC to move to new campus on bypass in 2022

from press release The official architectural renderings of West Georgia Technical College’s new Carroll Campus show two large buildings planned for the Buffalo Creek Technology Park on the Carrollton bypass. The new campus is scheduled to open in 2022 and replace the college’s 52-year-old campus on Newnan Road. Programs currently offered at the Newnan Road campus will relocate when the new campus opens.

The main classroom building, a threestory brick and steel structure, will house the enrollment center including offices for admissions and financial aid personnel, along with labs for paramedicine and certified nursing assistant programs on the first floor. The student center, bookstore and library will occupy a large portion of the second floor, with classrooms, computer labs and faculty offices filling the rest. The top floor will include a large cosmetology salon and labs for chemistry, criminal justice, engineering and early childhood development. General classrooms will be scattered on all floors.

The second building is a large, singlestory technical education building of almost 62,000 square feet. Inside, the space is divided into quadrants housing labs for industrial programs. The diesel equipment lab occupies one quadrant; the welding lab occupies another, with classroom space for the commercial truck driving program. The third quadrant will support construction programs: carpentry, plumbing and air conditioning. The fourth quadrant will house the See WGTC NEW CAMPUS page 26

“This fall, our campus will open to stu- expected to follow the best practices recomdents, faculty, staff, and the communities we mended by state public health officials and serve as the vibrant, welcoming place that the CDC to prevent the spread of the coronavirus to include: invites everyone “While online instruction is effective Monitor their to learn, grow, health every day and become,” and important to maintain as an option to report relevant Kelly said. “We for our students, we know the value of information and are taking steps an in-person higher education whether they are in this phased exhibiting any return to campus experience, and it is important to see symptoms of to make sure we our students continue to grow in that COVID-19; are ready to offer environment beginning in August,” Follow physithat experience to cal distancing our students in a said Dr. Brendan Kelly, president of guidelines; and fashion that proUWG, in a video address Clean and dismotes health and infect shared and personal spaces. safety.”

Additionally, everyone is strongly encourStudents, faculty and staff will be

OMA

aged to wear a cloth face covering over their mouth and nose in appropriate settings on campus.

The new guidelines will affect nearly all areas of campus life – from academics to social activities – and more details will be published soon on the UWG website. The university will balance the interactions that make a residential campus like UWG so valuable with a priority of creating a safe environment.

“Our goal with all of the protocols we’re implementing is to build a culture of mutual respect for each other as we return to campus,” Kelly said. “We are so excited to be able to offer a full, dynamic experience to our students this fall in the safest, most considerate ways possible.”

Page 10 July 12, 2020

StarNews

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RUNOFF AUGUST 11th from front page between two Republicans funeral director Cason Hightower, Carrollton, and attorney Tyler Paul Smith, Bremen.

State Court Judge candidate Met Lane Charles Merritt “Met” Lane formally qualified for Carroll County State Court Judge on March 2, 2020. “We deserve a judge who will treat everyone with dignity and respect,” said Lane. “As state court judge, I will be thoughtful and apply the words of the law fairly to each case.”

Lane is a partner in the law firm of Shadrix, Lane & Parmer, P.C. and has practiced law for more than 18 years. He is a former Assistant District Attorney for the Coweta Judicial Circuit and has served on Carrollton City Council from 2016-19, during which time he stated that he learned to work within the framework of serving the constituency and adhering to charters and ordinances. “I learned restraint,” he stated, “which I think will stand me in good stead as a judge.”

During Lane’s tenure, the mayor and council maintained the lowest property tax rate, water, sewer and sanitation rates in the area; did not raise taxes; initiated a bike share program permitting residents to rent bicycles from ocations throughout the city.

In addition, the Mayor and Council implemented a program to demolish blighted structures throughout the city. Many projects were completed: renovation of the Lakeshore Recreation Center, the Public Safety and Evidence Building, and the construction of the new fire station on Lovvorn Road. The Greenbelt was completed, and numerous trails were added. Every year the policemen and firemen, along with other city employees, received a 2.5% raise.

Lane said he has a strong sense of what it means to be a public servant and to serve his community. During his time on the council, he declined to receive the health benefits or the pension plan, because he felt that he was providing a public service.

“I did vote ‘yes’ to a pay raise for the mayor and council in order to attract people to the positions,” he explained. “However, I already knew I would not be benefitting, as I had already decided to run for judge.”

Growing up, he said his parents instilled in him a desire for public service. “I have a deep love for Carroll County and a passion to serve my county,” he declared. “I have had the privilege to serve as an Assistant District Attorney in Carroll County and serve on Carrollton’s City Council. Some people forget what “public service” means. To me, the term means to change and improve peoples’ lives. I became a lawyer to make a difference in peoples’ lives.”

Lane stated that serving Carroll County as the next state court judge will allow him to continue his passion of giving something back to his community and making a difference in peoples’ lives.

“You see,” he said, “nothing is as satisfying as making a real difference in someone’s life. Lawyers see such cases a few times in a career. A judge gets to work with them every week. More than anything else, that is why I want to be a judge. I want to make a difference.” He views retiring State Court Judge Robert H. Sullivan as a role model and hopes the voters will allow him to continue his legacy.

One issue facing state court is the high volume of criminal cases. “The Carroll County State court handles misdemeanor See CANDIDATE MET LANE page 12

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July 12, 2020 Page 11

QUICK COVID19 FACTS as of July 2, 2020

• There is a virus that causes a disease (example: HIV is the virus that causes the disease AIDS) • The virus is named “Severe Acute Respitory Syndrome Coronavirus 2” and called SARS CoV-2 • The disease is named “COronaVIrus [year] 2019” and is called COVID-19

Shown left is Dr. Laura Larson, chair, Carroll County Board of Health, having just removed her white mask (on podium) as she addressed the Carrollton Kiwanis Club adequately and safely distanced from the audience. Photo by Sue Horn “Take the time to check on your friends and neighbors,” advised Larson. “Now is a good time to re-connect.”

Dr. Larson said she thought that if there was a ‘silver lining’ to the cloud of COVID19, it would be the display of community unity. “We, at Tanner, along with individual members of the community, have received food, masks, and gowns,” she said. “Everyone has been helping and working together.” She said that if someone in West Georgia believes they have CoVID19, the first thing to do is immediately self-quarantine. Use bedroom and bathroom facilities apart from your family, if possible. Only venture out for medical needs and wear a mask whenever you do go out.

Then, call your primary care practice for a telehealth visit. Explain your symptoms to your medical provider, so they can order testing; or Or, you could schedule an appointment at a local urgent care or emergency department. You can also contact the Georgia Department of Public Health or the Carroll County Health Department to inquire about public testing options.

After the meeting, Dr. Larson was asked the following questions by StarNews: Q: After a vaccine is developed, how long do you believe will it take before the average person in West Georgia (not a physician or first responder who would be the first to receive) could receive one? A year? Six months?

Larson: As with prior vaccines, such as H1N1 influenza, I expect that CDC will publish a list of priority groups to receive the vaccine first. I expect that to include people with underlying high-risk conditions and the older population as well. The time it will take for the average person in West Georgia will depend on the available supply.

Q: You have been literally “hands on” since March/April with the CoVID19 cases in Carroll County that reached the Tanner hospitals. What percentage of the cases need respirators/ventilators? Half? Third? Most?

What percentage of positive cases can safely go home to recover without being admitted?

Larson: Approximately 70% of our positive COVID-19 cases are not admitted.

Approximately 8% of our positive COVID-19 cases are admitted to the ICU. Approximately 5% of our positive COVID-19 cases require ventilators while in the ICU. These numbers may change going forward.

Q: What is the range of days in the hospi-

tal for CoVID19 patients/what is the current average stay in days?

Larson: The average length of stay for a COVID-19 patient at Tanner is 17.6 days.

The longest stay has been 46 days. The average length of stay for COVID-19 patients on the ICU has been 22 days.

First documented cases (8 same day) in Carroll County was mid-March First documented death in Carroll County was March 29, 2020 CURRENT CASES in the STATE OF GEORGIA as of July 2, 2020: • 87,709 total cases testing positive for COVID-19 • 11,500 of those cases required hospitilzation - 2,849 deaths CURRENT CASES in CARROLL COUNTY, GEORGIA as of July 2, 2020: • 741 total cases testing positive for COVID-19 • 117 of those cases required hospitilzation - 40 deaths SOURCE: Georgia Department of Public Health:

dph.georgia.gov/covid-19-daily-status-report SOURCE: The World Health Organization:

who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

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Page 12 July 12, 2020

StarNews

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CANDIDATE MET LANE from page 10 start accountability courts such as a Veterans charges such as D.U.I., family violence, and traffic cases. While there are some civil cases filed in state court, over 90% are criminal/traffic cases,” he stated. “Our State Court is a criminal court. In 2019, there were more than 10,000 criminal and traffic cases filed in our county’s State Court.” His number one goal will be to protect the citizens of Carroll County from violent defendants. He plans to work with the Solicitor’s Office to have more jury trials so victims and defendants can have their day in court. “Presently victims can wait as long as a full year for their case to be heard,” Lane said.

Another issue cited by Lane is that many criminal defendants have mental issues and drug/alcohol dependency problems.

“Tragically, jails and prisons are emerging as the ‘psychiatric hospitals’ of the 2020s,” he explained. “National studies revealed that 40 percent of family members with severe mental illnesses have been arrested one or more times. Other national studies reveal that a high percentage of all jail and prison inmates suffer from severe mental illnesses such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorders.” I f elected, he said he plans to work with Carroll County Mental Health Advocates to assist non-violent defendants to help them understand their disease and their treatment options.

Lane sees a lack of accountability in the courts. “Unlike the State Courts in Douglas, Coweta, and Troup counties, the Carroll County State Court presently has no accountability courts,” he said. “Accountability courts treat nonviolent offenders who suffer from mental illness, addiction, or other health issues---not with prison time, but rather with monitoring and counseling to actually heal. This is far better than locking these people up and forgetting about them until their time is served. UGA (University of Georgia) recently released a study analyzing the economic impact of the 1,729 adult accountability court graduates in fiscal year 2017 throughout our state. The study found that accountability courts generated $38.2 million in economic benefits to Georgia.”

He said heplans to work to create accountability courts, such as a local veterans’ court, that will seek to divert eligible veteran defendants with substance dependency and/or mental illness to a specialized criminal court.

“I will seek advice from other state court judges who have implemented their own accountability courts,” he explained. “I will also work closely with our Carroll County Commissioners in seeking their full support in starting accountability courts in Carroll County.” He said he also wants to work to establish a DUI Court as a sentencing alternative for those who qualify after being convicted of multiple DUIs. Lane feels it is important that the voters understand what the Carroll County State Court criminal justice system is.

“First, our State Court only hears criminal misdemeanor cases and traffic violations,” he explained. “For example, the State Court handles charges such as D.U.I., family violence, and simple battery cases. If convicted of a misdemeanor, the state court judge can only sentence an offender to the county jail.

Our current State Court Judge, Judge Sullivan, and our former Solicitor-General Doug Vassy and current Solicitor-General Becky Jackson have done an excellent job over the years of sentencing offenders to county jail when it is appropriate. As to hopeful changes I already stated, I would

Court and DUI court.”

Lane was born and raised in Carroll County, graduating from Carrollton High School. Having earned a scholarship, he attended and graduated from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina and earned his law degree from the University of South Carolina’s School of Law. He returned to Carroll County in 2004 after living in Atlanta a couple of years.

He met his wife, Corbett, on a blind date and later discovered they lived near each other in Atlanta. They have been married for 16 years and have three children.

The Lanes attend Carrollton First United Methodist Church where Lane has taught Sunday School for 10 years.

Lane would like the voters to know: “I was born and raised in Carroll County and attended our public schools. I have practiced law for more than 18 years in Carroll County. I am a conservative and a Christian.

Most of all, I am not ashamed or embarrassed of being a conservative and a Christian. I am blessed by God to be able to live in the United States. I know that we live in the greatest nation on earth and have a legal system that is the envy of the world.

Since January 4, 2020, I have knocked on over 4,000 doors in Carroll County. I have made thousands of phone calls asking Carroll Countians for their vote. I know many of you have seen my signs throughout the county. I believe my campaign exhibits that I have a very strong work ethic. Early voting begins on July 20 and the election is on August 11. I am humbly asking you to elect me as your next State Court Judge.”

State Court Judge candidate Erica Tisinger Erica Tisinger: Erica Tisinger is a member of the Bar in both Georgia and Tennessee. She has had a myriad of varied experience in her career as an attorney.

She has been a partner at Greer Tisinger, LLC in Carrollton since 2010, representing individual clients in general civil cases, pri-

marily family law and probate issues. “I moved to Carroll County in December 2010.

My husband was born and raised here, and his family stretches back over 100 years with a deep and strong commitment to the betterment of this community,” she explained.

“After starting a family, we realized we wanted to be closer to family and to raise our family in a small town. We wanted our children to have small town values but be close enough to a metro area to give them experiSee CANDIDATE ERICA TISINGER page 18

I am truly grateful for the support of the Carroll County community. I need your vote again during the Run-Off Election.

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JOHN TANNER PARK

This park is a Carroll County treasure spread over 138 acres. It features a large sand beach, camping, hiking, fishing, putt putt golf, paddle boats, a group lodge, motel units, pavilions, and a large picnic area. All campsites have water, electricity, and cable TV. Eight pull-through sites accommodate tents and RVs. A group lodge accommodates 40 people overnight in bunk-style rooms with a fireplace, deck, large kitchen and lake front view. A six-unit motel also is located on the lake. The fully equipped units have combination kitchen/dining/living room, two double beds and cable TV. Whether enjoying a day at the beach, a large group activity, or an extended stay, John Tanner Park is the relaxing solution.

354 Tanner’s Beach Road, Mt Zion 770-832-2222 www.carrollcountyga.com/

MCINTOSH RESERVE PARK

McIntosh Reserve Park contains 527 acres of history, trails, a splash water park, pavilions, and spectacular frontage on the Chattahochee River. Walk and picnic beside the Chattahoochee River where Chief William McIntosh of the Lower Creeks once lived and was murdered in 1825. Some 14 miles of hiking trails wind through the park. Fishing, rafting, and canoeing are permitted. Primitive camping is available. Hiking, equestrian trails, boat ramps, 4 pavilions, and council bluff are among the spectacular attractions. Raft, hike,or picnic in this one-of-a-kind park.

1046 W. McIntosh Circle, Whitesburg 770-830-5879 www.carrolllcountyga.com/

LITTLE TALLAPOOSA PARK

Little Tallapoosa Park is a 256 acre Park bisected by the Little Tallapoosa River.

It hosts almost 7 miles of natural trails for hiking and equestrian use plus a 2 mile paved trail for bikers, runners,and walkers. The kids and adults will love the Splash Park and there are 2 pavilions available for reservation. The park contains 2 ponds for fishing and a 7 acre meadow perfect for special events. A favorite for campers it offers 32 tent/pop-up campsites with 120 watt electrical hook-ups and 23 Rv campsites with water and 120 watt, 30/50 amp electrical hookups. All camp sits have picnic table and fire ring with grill. It also offers a Comfort Station with restrooms, showers, washer, and dryer. Your home away from home!

1930 Hwy 113, Carrollton 770-214-3580

www.carrollcountyga.com/

All amenities are subject to change in availability due to the ever changing COVID-19 situation but we are ready and excited to gain new visitors to these amazing parks that Carroll County has to offer!

Page 14 July 12, 2020

StarNews

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Celebratory event for broadband expansion into rural West Georgia brings governor, national argiculture secretary, state agriculture commissioner, and more to Carroll

Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, Coupled with matching funds from here at home, and we served hospitals, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, Georgia SyncGlobal and Carroll EMC, the initial healthcare providers, and businesses,” said capital investment will Kyle Williams, CEO of SyncGlobal. “We USDA/RUS grant money had just been Agriculture Commissioner Gary Secretary Perdue: amount to almost $20 mil- did not serve homes but knew that was the awarded that will enable the installation of Black, American Farm Bureau fiber optic networks and broadband speed Federation President Zippy “This will benefit the lion for the first stage of missing ingredient. We focused on that effort internet (up to 1 GBPS) in the cooperative’s Duvall, CEO of SyncGlobal state, businesses, implementing broadband. but needed the right partner. That partner is Kyle Williams, President/CEO rural service territory.

EMCs, education, These funds will help to Carroll EMC. The internet is the heart of begin the process of hanging The kickoff was attended by the nation’s of Carroll EMC Tim Martin, See CARROLL EMC next page and citizens fiber along local elected officials, gov- everyone has a little Carroll EMC’s ernment agency skin in the game. infrastructure.

The project is representatives, The pandemic slated to begin and community highlighted the immediately partners. importance of upon authorizaPart of tion from Rural Perdue’s platbroadband.”

Utilities form in the 2002 election was to con- Service, a subdivision of nect Georgia. “We need USDA. The initial footprint will span broadband infrastructure here and everywhere to con- most of Heard County and nect people and businesses,” southern Carroll County and stated Secretary Perdue. follows scattered infrastructure “This will benefit the state, into northern Troup County and businesses, EMCs, educa- across the Georgia state line tion, and citizens—every- into eastern Alabama. It will one has a little skin in the serve 125 square miles and game. The pandemic high- more than 7300 residents, more lighted the importance of than 200 farms and businesses, one school, and four fire stabroadband.”

The Bremen-based tele- tions. Long term, the intent is to communications provider expand the fiber network and received $12.5 million in broadband speed internet grant funds from the United access across all Carroll EMC States Department of territories and beyond.

“Twenty years ago, we Agriculture’s Broadband started building SyncGlobal Re-Connect Program.

Carroll EMC/President Tim Martin Georgia’s Governor (the 83rd) Brian Kemp

RURAL INTERNET from front page

Carroll EMC

Turner Pharmacy

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StarNews July 12, 2020

Page 15

SyncGlobal was the first to complete tion, and health care in the State,” declared residential broadband subscribers. Carroll application in 2019. Looking at Perdue and Governor Kemp. “President Trump is EMC is a Member-owned cooperative proin response to his “skin in the game” remark, invested in rural communication partnership viding electricity to approximately 50,000 with local leaders and will continue to move homes and businesses. The co-op serves Martin stated, “We feel pretty skint!” rural Georgia forward. This is Members in Carroll, Haralson, Heard, Martin pledged to con“In 2015, the Carroll the best money the federal Paulding, Polk, Floyd, and Troup counties. tinue to “solve the digital This institution is an equal opportunity progovernment ever spent.”

EMC Board of divide one community at a “This is a great step in the vider and employer. For more information time.”

Directors tasked me direction,” said Duvall. visit the cooperative’s website at carrolBy 2016, Carroll EMC with finding a way to right “What electricity was to our lemc.com or follow Carroll EMC on helped commission a get broadband to our grandfather is what broadband Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, study conducted by area development authorities Members and into rural is to us. This will make us bet- Instagram, and LinkedIn. and the western Georgia,” said ter stewards of land.

University Tim Martin, CEO of t h e Broadband of Georgia Carroll EMC. “We infrastructure is to deterbelieve this project is a necessity to mine what was going to be . . . a model rural America.”

SyncGlobal needed to for this state and Telecom, headmake around this country. . . quartered in broadband We feel pretty skint!” Bremen, GA, in rural has served Georgia a reality. The result was a local business-customers in westtelecom/internet company ern and northwestern Georgia and local electric cooperative for the last 19 years as a partnering together begin- facility-based CLEC and ISP. ning in 2018. The passage of SyncGlobal operates an existSenate Bill 2 by the Georgia ing fiber network totaling General Assembly and approximately 400 route Governor Brian Kemp, miles.

Over this network, it delivwhich authorized electric membership corporations ers a commercial offering that and their affiliates to provide includes high-speed internet, broadband services, along voice service, cloud PBX, with USDA’s Re-Connect Ethernet transport, colocation, Program, were the final cata- and managed data services.

SyncGlobal’s ability to levlysts to move this project erage years of communicaforward.

“Broadband is necessary tions infrastructure and National Secretary of Agriculture and former to economic growth, educa- knowledge will benefit future Georgia governor (the 81st) Sonny Perdue Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black

CARROLL EMC from page 14

America.”

“In 2015, the Carroll EMC Board of Directors tasked me with finding a way to get broadband to our Members and into rural western Georgia,” said Tim Martin, CEO of Carroll EMC. “They recognized the need and said we have to find some way to help with this. We believe this project is going to be a springboard for future projects for western Georgia and a model for this state and around this country.”

Basic First Aid Tips

Jones-Wynn 2020

Symptoms of heat-related emergencies include cramps, headaches, dizziness, nausea, rapid breathing, pale or red skin and irritable behaviour. If the person has any of these, first aid must be administrated as follows Move the person to a cooler location or an area with good ventilation Ensure that the person is well hydrated by making him drink cool water in sips.

Use electrolytic supplements for severe dehydration.

Loosen any tight clothing to avoid excessive sweating.

Use fanning for better air circulation.

Put cool water on the skin for faster body cooling.

For heat stroke, covered ice packs must be put in each armpit and on the back of the neck.

West Ga Ambulance Insect Bites:

For bee stings, use a blunt object for stinger removal and apply hydrocortisone cream.

For tick bites, use tweezers for tick removal and apply an antiseptic.

Swimming Hazards

In case of drowning, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation(CPR) may be administered as a life-saving measure.

Use ear drops for treating infected swimmer’s ears. Avoid inserting cotton-buds.

Use running water for burns and cleaning wounds.

For nasal bleeding, sit in upright position and pinch the lower nose to stop bleeding.

Apply aloe or lavender oil for soothing sunburns.

Use emergency medical services for persistence or severity of symptoms in all cases.

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BITUARIES StarNews O O BITUARIES BITUARIES O- WEST BITUARIES GEORGIA AREA FUNERAL HOMES - - WEST GEORGIA AREA FUNERAL HOMES

Page 28 9, 2020 SSStar NNews www.starnewsgaonline.com Page 16February August 11, 2019 tar www.starnewsgaonline.com Page 16 August 11, 2019 tar ews www.starnewsgaonline.com Page August 2019 Star N ews www.starnewsgaonline.com Page 1616 August 11,11, 2019 tar ews www.starnewsgaonline.com

Page 16 August 11, 2019

Page 16 April14, 19,2020 2020 SS News ews www.starnewsgaonline.com www.starnewsgaonline.com 816June tar Page July 12, - WESTGEORGIA GEORGIA AREAFUNERAL FUNERALHOMES HOMES- - WEST AREA ST GEORGIA AREA FUNERAL HOMES - tarN

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The “new normal” and CoVid-19: summer activities, restuarants, wineries, parks

EXPUNGED from page SCHOOL BOARD from4page 8

J. Hoyt Thomas

learning, unless itCoca-Cola, is a necessity.

“I think students and teachers with states other board remained since that based time. on “I their have record. dedicated counterparts last week, Home Depot, in other could memhire the another opportunity dent and teacher interaction is paramount in bers that might not be as familiar with the my entire life to leading and serving chilincluding sex crimes, crimes against Newell Brands, McKenney’s and other applicants with a record because individuals GJP has been working for several years to Over the next five years, Brooks sees the education.

A computer cannot replace a good current dayto togetday operations of the local dren.anRunning for law the Carroll children, familyfacing violence and DUI. Georgia employers sent letters and able their record expunged.

In major get expanded passedCounty and in Board 2019 were school system several issues.

Growth low and enforce the current guidelines for safetyIand is tested every few only with curbside service and deliveries.

by Kimbill Reine teacher,” he explained.

He doesn’t feel and the schools. am the alsowater a since strong supporter of reached of Education 2012 was a way to continue also allowsfor individuals whopart haveof kicked out to Legislators urging them to however, almost all off theinSecond Chance for Georgia Georgia, in The student population the northern restrictions to make the park a safe place for hours for the correct chlorine levels and for Wineries are now open at this time with On May 28th, Governor Kemp renewed current of “sheltering in place” will Academics, Arts, to serve children after retiring as received a has Pardon from theand State Board of Campaign.

SBsituation 288. stayedand onActivities.” a person’s record for pass 74 long organizations anda convictions the county been steady will continue everyone.” theThe correct PH balance. System is near and have strict guidelines in place. that Trillium Vineyard his Stateand of Paroles Emergency for thethethird time, long-term effects the students’ classroom teacher.” still life, Pardons tothere petition to congregations Forany more information, visitonGJP.org theyCarroll were atCounty a disadvantage in hiring. In joinedSince the effort, feeling rangingisfrom to be so. Init addition, will beemphasizacourt teacher Johnson stated, “We will continue to folowned by Bruce and Karen Cross, is now extending until July 12th 2020, NORMAL beautiful place forchosen memories” the NEW required subject page matter.9 true“A today, Cleveland has to the run Rise for a dear to Cleveland’s heart, as he graduated acquisition ofSee restrict and “Fewer seal felony convictions as long advocacy groups like Women on “A beautiful place for memories” shortage. college students are “A beautiful place for memories” “A beautiful place for memories” tiful place for memories” “A beautiful place for memories” open term. and located on an alpaca farm in from Carrollton City Schools in 1985. His “Once our teachers create curriculum maps ingthey its critical in theviolent battle felonies against or the third as wereMajors,” notrole serious andOur theOur Southern Center for Human Rights, 26-acre perpetual care memorial park Education she explained.

“I am 26-acre perpetual care memorial park Our 26-acre perpetual care memorial park Karen Cross asked about what transmission of CoVID-19. The governor Bremen.

Our 26-acre perpetual care memorial park re perpetual care memorial park Our perpetualand carestudents memorialwill parkrapfall26-acre the teachers son, Clark, graduated from Villa Rica High for the Cleveland feels he was isthis the best sex offenses. to was more conservatively focused hearing that itvocal is dueabout to paperwork, testing, developed to serve area nowperson anddue for for was developed to serve serve this area now and for precautions are in place at the winery to School in 2007, while Jace, his other son, idlywas remained the importance of was developed to this area now and for was developed to serve this area now and for ped to serve this area now and for hasThe developed to serve this area now and for fill any instructional gaps that might the job because of his hands-on knowledge bill also provides significant liability organizations such as Georgia Center for and a lackand of the timemedically to spendcompromised with their the coronavirus. generations to come.West Georgia generations toshared come.West Georgia that their tastea graduated from VRHS in 2013. the elderly generations to come.West generations to come.West Georgia ations to come.West Georgia generations to come.West Georgia have &been created by any distance learning of theMemorial system.

HeShe has seen it for as aGeorgia teacher, protection for employers who engage in Opportunity and Americans Prosperity. families.”

Park is divided into beautiful CREMATION SERVICE Memorial Park is divided divided into beautiful testingMemorial (flights) are being offered atwhat this continuing to shelter-in-place, and remain also for coach, Memorial Park is into beautiful CREMATION SERVICE Park isnot divided into beautiful && CREMATION SERVICE al Park is divided into beautiful Park is divided into beautiful &Memorial CREMATION SERVICE & CREMATION SERVICE heDirectors declared.

Even though, Carroll County students are hardships,” and agroups, board member.

“I know second chance hiring.matter Records Faith-based service providers and Diversity is another that will need gardens including our traditional up-right Funeral & Undertakers gardens including our traditional up-right time, but guests are welcome to come out to citizens to continue to wear masks while in gardens including our traditional up-right Funeral Directors & Undertakers gardens including our traditional up-right Funeral Directors & Undertakers ncluding our traditional up-right gardens including our traditional up-right to Funeral Directors & Undertakers Funeral Directors & Undertakers Cleveland said, “We must continue currently engaged in distance learning, actually goes on in classrooms on a day to available to law workforce attention.

“A lack of ourvirus. system enjoy headstone section inpurchase the of Memories headstone section in Garden the Garden of Memories Memories the scenery, your own bottle public to help stop thediversity spread ofinthe headstone in the Garden of headstone in development the Garden of Memories ection in the Garden of Memories enforcement headstone section in the Garden of Memories day basis.

I section cansection bridge the gap between stu- Cleveland is not a big fan of this method of and SB 288 will allow rehabilitated hasBusiness caused aare number of young educators to as well as our fl at bronze memorial section See CLEVELAND page 18 asto well as our our at bronze bronze memorial section either a table inside (foreopening their doors with of wine as well as at memorial section as well asenjoy our flat atflflbronze memorial section our flat bronze memorial section prosecutors, as well as our flat bronze memorial section and organizations agreed seek employment in other systems,”toshe and our our Mausoleum inguidelines) the Garden individuals petition the court llowing social distancing or out strong restrictions, safety precautions, and and our Mausoleum in the Garden and Mausoleum in the Garden and our Mausoleum in thethe Garden ur Mausoleum in the Garden and our Mausoleum in the Garden certain restricted this was right thing said.

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Chamber recognized Brooks said, “I amparticipant’s here andwould ready with all befor excluded from Rica and is also open at this time.

Taste testmeasures to ensure wellbeing, Shirley F. Alexander, age 71, Tiffanee Dawne “Tiff” Cook, GJP has served e m p l o y e r s w e r e Master Danny JoeJoe Jones, Jr.,Jr., Shedd, age 53,53, my years of experiences to ensure that our Shirley F.Alexander, Alexander, age71, 71,ingsealing, Tiffanee Dawne “Tiff” Cook, Master Danny Joe Jones, Jr., Jerry Shirley F. Alexander, age 71, Tiffanee Dawne “Tiff” Cook, JerryScott Scott Shedd, age Master Danny Jones, Shirley F. age Tiffanee Dawne “Tiff” Cook, Jerry Scott Shedd, age restriction and e Dawne “Tiff” Cook, Georgians Shirley F. Alexander, age 71, Tiffanee Dawne Cook, isJerry limited due to the virus.

Seating has Jr.,Master screening workers for illness, limiting the Danny Joe Jones, Jr., Master Danny Joe Jones, Jr., Jerry Scott Shedd, age 53,53, Scott Shedd, age 53, Master Danny Joe Charlsie Hettie Hardegree Brock, age 96, \Robert Jones Hooton, age 57, born July 28, Joseph Clinton “J.C.” Reid age 87,“Tiff” born April who have struggling to fill open born November 27, 1947, died age 45, born October 12, 1973, students are provided safe environments that age 2 months, born May 16, 2019, died Monday, July 8, 2019 born November 27, 1947, died age 45, born October 12, 1973, age 2 months, born May 16, 2019, born November 27, 1947, died age 45, born October 12, 1973, died Monday, July 8, 2019 been arranged to follow the social distancing number of people in the building to 25, age 2 months, born May 16, 2019, born November 27, 1947, died age 45, born October 12, 1973, died Monday, July 8, 2019 born October 12, 1973, born born November 27, 1947, died age 45, born October 12, 1973, including sex crimes, crimes age 2 months, born May 16, 2019, age 2 months, born May 16, 2019, died Monday, July 8, 2019 died Monday, July 8, 2019 age 2 months, born M come in contact with positions and criminal February 22, 1923, died January 2020 are conductive for learning; teachers that and are24, Sunday, July 14, 2019 died Friday, July 12, 2019 1962, died Tuesday, January 14, 2020 7, 1932, died Friday, January 10,Simpson, 2020 died Thursday, July 4, 4, 2019 David Ronald age Sunday, July 14, 2019 died Friday, July 12, 2019 guidelines.

For more information requiring the facility to be4, regularly died Thursday, July 4, 2019 Sunday, July 14, 2019 died Friday, July 12, 2019 David Ronald Simpson, age died Thursday, July 4 died Thursday, July 2019 Sunday, July 14, 2019 died Friday, July 12, 2019 David Ronald Simpson, age ay, July 12, 2019 Sunday, July 14, 2019 died Friday, July 12, 2019 died Thursday, July 4, 2019 died Thursday, July 2019 David Ronald Simpson, age David Ronald Simpson, age against children, family the criminal justice records were barriers to qualified and caring, and to be aage voice for Betty Joyce Browning, 86, born Dwight Bishop, Jr., 62, James B. B. Dean, Nell Lovvorn, age Bobby R.age Horsley, age 59,“Marjorie” born February 15, Theortha “KREGG” Robinson, agedied 56, died born July 21,21, 1948, July thoroughly sanitized, only serving drinks to Dwight Bishop, Jr.,age age 62,www.littlevinevineyards.com James Dean, age92, 92, “Marjorie” Nell Lovvorn, age70, Dwight Bishop, Jr., age 62, James Dean, age 92, 70, born July 1948, died July “Marjorie” Nell Lovvorn, age Dwight Bishop, Jr., age 62, James B.B. Dean, age 92, born July 1948, died July B. Dean, age 92, system forfeel over 30 Dwight Bishop, Jr., age 62, James B. Dean, age 92, “Marjorie” Nell Lovvorn, age “Marjorie” Nell Lovvorn, age individuals 70, born July 21,21, 1948, July 70, born July 21, 1948, died July “Marjorie” Nell Lo those who that they are not being heard. violence and DUI. If70, you need to make a died born September 28, 1956, died born September 02, 1926, died Fun for the kids may still be had.

Most seated guests, and limiting party size to 6 September 23, 1933, died Friday, January 10, 86, born August 3, 1932, died 09, 2019 1960, died Thursday, January 02, 2020 January 28, 2020 born September 28, 1956, died born September 02, 1926, died 86, born August 3, 1932, died born September 28, 1956, died born September 02, 1926, died 09, 2019 years.

GJP provides 86,born born August3, 3,1932, 1932,died died09, the 86, born September 28, 1956, died born Septemberparticipating 02, 1926, indied 09, 2019 tember 02, 1926, died I want born September 28, 1956, died born September 02, 1926, died to keeping value in public education August 86, born August 3, 1932, died 2019 09, 2019 86, born August 3, or talk toage us95, in summer camps and parks are2019 now open fol- Wednesday, July 10, 2019 people, to name just few2019 of the guidelines Tuesday, July 9,a9, 2019 July 3, 3, 2019 Zellie Fred Sprewell, age 94,94, 2020 Tuesday, July 9, Wednesday, July 3, holistic criminal representation paired with Wednesday, workforce.

Amy Lancaster-King, Director of Wednesday, Wednesday, July 10, 2019Nathan H.payment Andrew Travis Jackson, Jr., age 101, born “Nat” Shackleford, born Tuesday, July 2019 Wednesday, July 2019 Zellie Fred Sprewell, age 94, by being visible and accessible.”

Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Tuesday, July 9, 2019 Wednesday, July 3, 2019 Zellie Fred Sprewell, age ay, July 3, 2019 Tuesday, July 9, 2019 Wednesday, July 3, 2019 July 10, 2019 Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Zellie Fred Sprewell, age 94, Zellie Fred Sprewell, age 94, Wednesday, July 10, the Bushon strict guidelines that were age put in and regulations.

Gatherings of no more than lowing person, we will28, meet you Donald Brasseal “Don” Bonner, Barry Dickerson, Andra Dixon McGill, age 76,76, born February 1925, died services support, assists individuals Workforce Development, Donald Brasseal “Don” Bonner, Barry Bushon Dickerson, age Brandon D. Cole, age 48, born August 18, Carroll County School Board Andra Dixon McGill, age 76, Donald Brasseal “Don” Bonner, Barry Bushon Dickerson, age born February 28, 1925, died February 9,Metro 1918,Atlanta died Friday, January 10, 2020 June 29, 1924, died Saturday, January 25, 2020 Andra Dixon McGill, age Donald Brasseal “Don” Bonner, Barry Bushon Dickerson, age born February 28, 1925, died Bushon Dickerson, age social Donald Brasseal “Don” Bonner, Barry Bushon Dickerson, age Andra Dixon McGill, age 76, Andra Dixon McGill, age 76, born February 28, 1925, died born February 28, 1925, died Andra Dixon McG place by Governor Kemp.

25 people in a single location with six feet atSaturday, your vehicle.

Gloves age 76, born June 05,05, 1943, died born September 1950, died across Georgia each with their criminal Chamber, adds, “Helping 7, returning citizens born 18,18, 1941, died July 27,27, 2019 DISTRICT 1year CANDIDATE age 76, born June 05, 1943, died68, 68, born September 7, 1950, died bornOctober October 18, 1941, diedSaturday, age 76, born June 1943, died 68, born September 7, 1950, died July 27, 2019 died Tuesday, January 14, 2020 born October 1941, died age 76, born June 05, 1943, died 68, born September 7, 1950, died Saturday, July 2019 September 7, 1950, died 1971, McIntosh Reserve Park located in age 76, born June 05, 1943, died 68, born September 7, 1950, died between every person is now allowed.

Small Sherry Lee Thigpen Kierbow, age 63, born Daniel T. “Danny” Sharpe III, age 61, born born October 18, 1941, died born October 18, 1941, died Saturday, July 27, 2019 Saturday, July 27, 2019 born October 18, history and has traveled around the state to Friday, and mask are worn and gainFriday, employment to2019 fill open positions is Wednesday, Wednesday, July 10, 2019 July 19,19, Rob Cleveland July 17,17, 2019 Daniel Lance Walker, age 40,40, Wednesday, July 10, 2019 July 19, 2019 Wednesday, July 17, 2019 Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Friday, July 2019 Daniel Lance Walker, age Whitesburg is open for7, the public to Tuesday, enjoy weddings, recreational sports may87, now Wednesday, July 2019 Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Friday, July 19, 2019 Daniel Lance Walker, age ly 19, 2019 Harold Aubrey Cook, age borngood February Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Friday, 19, 2019 17, 2019 Wednesday, July 17, 2019 Daniel Lance Walker, age 40,40, Wednesday, July 17, Daniel Lance Walker, age 40, Wednesday, May 1956, died January 21, July 2020 March 15, 1958, diedJuly Tuesday, January 7, 2020 provide record restriction events and for business and for the community.

Incumbent Rob disinfectant on anything John D. Brown, Jr., age 53, Bobbie Jean Dodderer, age 84, Eugene Parker Mullis, Jr., age born September 18, 1978, died John D. Brown, Jr., age 53, Bobbie Jean Dodderer, age 84, everything the park has to offer including resume following the social distancing Eugene Parker Mullis, Jr., age John D. Brown, Jr., age 53, Bobbie Jean Dodderer, age 84, born September 18, 1978, died Eugene Parker Mullis, Jr.,age age John D.Monday, Brown, Jr., issues age 53, Bobbie JeantoDodderer, age 84, born September 18,1978, 1978, died Jean Dodderer, age 84, 2, John D. Brown, Jr., Jr., age 53, Bobbie Jean Dodderer, age 84, Parker Mullis, Eugene Parker Mullis, Jr., age born September 18, born September 18, 1978, died 1932, died January 27,July 2020 education on expungement in born Eugene Parker Mu Removing barriers employment grows tax E. J. Kilgore, age 67, 70, bornEugene May 23, 1952, died Jenny Ruth Nixon Sheffield, age died on Cleveland isVenues asking vottouched, brought to 92, you, ordied born August 18, 1965, died July 9,of9, 1935, died Monday, born December 31, 1948, died Sunday, July 21, 2019 over 20 miles trails that may be hiked, guidelines. are now in the same cateborn August 18, 1965, died July born July 9, 1935, died Monday, 70, born December 31, 1948, died born August 18, 1965, died July born July 1935, died Monday, Sunday, July 21, 2019 70, born December 31, 1948, died born August 18, 1965, died July born July 9,crime 1935, died Monday, Sunday, July 21, 2019 9, 1935, died Monday, Georgia. born August 18, 1965, died July born July 9, 1935, died Monday, dollars, reduces and recidivism costs, 70, born December 31, 1948, died 70, born December 31, 1948, died Sunday, July 21, 2019 Sunday, July 21, 2019 70, born December 31 ers for a third term in the Wayne “Jerome” Driver, age 47, born June Thursday, January Sunday, January 5,the 2020 into offi“Debbie” ce.“Debbie” 22, 2019 22,22, bicycled or2019 done by horseback, Spray16, and2020 gory as restaurants and must follow the same Monday, July 8, 8, 2019 Deborah Ann West, 22, 2019 July 22, 2019 Monday, July 8, 2019 22, 2019 July 2019 Deborah Ann West, Monday, July 8, 2019 GJP was heavily involved in drafting the July and helps our economy and communities Monday, July 2019 22, 2019 July 22, 2019 Deborah “Debbie” Ann West, 019 22, 2019 July 22, 2019 District 1 seat, Carroll Monday, July 8, 2019 Monday, July 8, 2019 Deborah “Debbie” Ann West, Deborah “Debbie” Ann West, 26, 1972, died Wednesday, January 22, 2020 Splash play area forJames children, playground, a ageRandy guidelines.

Marie Elizabeth Phillips Bryce, Anna Marsella Fazio, age Dewey 90, bornLee January 24, ageage Dana Thomas Shick, ageJuly 45, September Nichols, 66,66, age 58, died July 22,born 2019 Marie Elizabeth Phillips Bryce, Anna Marsella Fazio, age major rewrite of Georgia’s thrive.

The Metro Atlanta Chamber isKnight, proud Randy Lee Nichols, Marie Elizabeth Phillips Bryce, Anna Marsella Fazio, age age 58, died 22, 2019 County Board of Randy Lee Nichols, age Marie Elizabeth Phillips Bryce, Anna Marsella Fazio, age age 58, died July 22, 2019 Marsella Fazio, age last Marie Elizabeth Phillips Bryce, Anna Marsella Fazio, age Randy Lee Nichols, age 66,66,age Randy Lee Nichols, age 66, 58, died July 22, 2019 age 58, died July 22, 2019 Randy Lee Nicho cabin offered for small weddings, covered Most of Carroll County restaurants are Reven Jim Embry, age 85, born September age 89, born September 14, 1929, 85, born on Jan 1, 1934, died June 24,24, 1953, died 1929, died Sunday, January 12, 2020 2,Friday, 1974, died Sunday, 19, 2020 Wallace Allen Worthan, law, which became14, effective to85, be part of the team that helped move the born age 89, born September 14, 1929, 85, born on Jan 1,1934, 1934, died Education.

Cleveland born June 24, 1953, died Friday, age 89, born September 14, 1929, 85, born Jan 1, 1934, died Wallace Allen Worthan, age born June 24, 1953, born June 1953, died Friday, age 89, born September 1929, born onon Jan 1, died Wallace Allen Worthan, age on Jan 1, 1934, died expungement age 89, born September 14, 1929, 85, bornJanuary on Jan 1, 1934,age died born June 24, 1953, died Friday, born June 24, 1953, died Friday, Wallace Allen Worthan, age Wallace Allen Worthan, age pavilions, camping and more.

Daryl now open for dine-in guests at this time.

It is died Saturday, July 20, 2019 July 8, Roger 2019 in 2013 and non-convictions to be Monday, 20, 1934, died 27, 2020 Second Chances bill July 26, 2019 died Monday, July 15,born 2019 has served inallowed thisJanuary posiDale Pressley, 71, born May William56, Lee “Bill” Smith, 75, July died Saturday, July 20, 2019 Monday, July 8, 2019 July 26, 201919, died Saturday, July 20, 2019 Monday, July 8, 2019 56, died Monday, July 15, 2019 July 26, 2019 died Saturday, July 20, 2019 Monday, July 8,forward.”

2019 56, died Monday, July 15, 2019 July 8, 2019 Johnson, park manager to McIntosh Reserve age expected that restuarant owners /employees died Saturday, July 20, 2019 Monday, July 8,age 2019 July 26, 2019 July 26, 2019 56, died Monday, July 15, 2019 56, died Monday, July 15, 2019 July 26, 2019 removed from someone’s record.

GJP has GJP has long engaged employers on this Earl Wayne Carden, age 80, Harris Nell Griffin Jennings, tion since 2012.

Ara Bell D. Sanders, age 79, Carol Judith Chapman, age 55,55, Walter Edmond Gilbert, age 83, born July 16, Earl Wayne Carden, age 80, Harris Nell Griffin Jennings, 1948, died Thursday, January 2, 2020 24, 1944, died Friday, January 17, 2020 Ara Bell D. Sanders, age 79, Earl Wayne Carden, age 80, Harris Nell Griffin Jennings, Carol Judith Chapman, age 55, and Morse Bridge, shared that they are takwill follow the strict criteria and guidelines Ara Bell D. Sanders, age 79, Earl Wayne Carden, age 80, Harris Nell Griffin Jennings, Carol Judith Chapman, age Nell Griffin Jennings, long Earl Wayne Carden, age 80, Harris Nell Griffin Jennings, Ara Bell D. Sanders, age 79, Ara Bell D. Sanders, age 79, Carol Judith Chapman, age 55, Carol Judith Chapman, age 55, Ara Bell D. Sande seen the problems faced by people issue, having hostedTuesday, numerous round table He is aOctober (currently) a January born 29, died July 2, 2, August 06,06, 1939, died July June 24, 1964, died Sunday, born October 29,1938, 1938, diedage age 83, died Tuesday, July 2,born died Thursday, 23,died 2020 ing the83, virus and the1964, safety of the public very put in place by Governor Kemp.

Restaurants born August 06, 1939, died Julyborn born October 29, 1938, died age 83, died Tuesday, July born June 24, 1964, died Sunday, Helen Louise Rankin, age 63, born October 16, born August 1939, died July born October 29, 1938, died age 83, died Tuesday, July 2, born June 24, 1964, died Sunday, died Tuesday, July 2, 1936, born October 29, 1938, died age 83, died Tuesday, July 2, born August 06, 1939, died July born August 06, 1939, died July Cleveland born June 24, 1964, died Sunday, born June 24, died Sunday, with past criminal convictions and born August 06, 193 discussions in the last five years.

Employers retired football coach Friday, June 28, 2019 2019 2019 July 7, 7, 2019 serious.

Patrols are done through the park to 24,Friday, on the Carrollton Square are66, offering addiFriday, June 28, 2019 2019 24, 2019 Friday, June 28, 2019 2019 July 7, 2019 Linda Sue Harris, age born February 7,vocalized 24, 2019 Friday, June 28, 2019 2019 July 2019 witnessed what the research shows, that June 28, 2019 2019 1956, died Sunday, January 12, 2020 have support of the effort for a 24, 2019 24, 2019 July 7, 2019 July 7, 2019 24, 2019 and public-school educator, having served in tional seating outside thata has beenhistory spaced enforce the social distancing guidelines. people of color who have criminal solution to address these hiring 1953, died Sunday, January 19, 2020 that capacity for 29 years.

He was sworn legislative Mon-Sat 11am-6pm The park’s Spray and Splash is monitored accordingly.

Some restaurants are continuing are likely toinbe deniedof employment or difficulties, Georgia employers reported that ontomore the Board January 2013 and has

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Community Foundation of West Georgia continues to be a valuable community partner amidst CoVID-19 crisis: issues grants totaling $151,765 to local nonprofits

from press release The Community Foundation of West Georgia COVID-19 Response Fund now has issued grants totaling $151,765 to local nonprofit organizations in Carroll, Haralson and Heard counties.

The twenty-four nonprofit organizations receiving the grants are serving thousands of local people in need in a variety of ways.

Families are staying in housing instead of becoming homeless, thousands of people are receiving hundreds of thousands of pounds of food, patients are receiving medical care, meals are being delivered to the elderly who are confined to their homes, young families are receiving diapers and formula, breast cancer patients are receiving assistance, and children who live in homes that put them at

CoVID-19 Exective Orders extend safety requirements and guidelines through August 11th

from press release Governor Brian P. Kemp signed two executive orders extending the Public Health State of Emergency and existing COVID-19 safety measures.

“As we continue our fight against COVID-19 in Georgia, it is vital that Georgians continue to heed public health guidance by wearing a mask, washing their hands regularly, and practicing social distancing,” said Governor Kemp. “We have made decisions throughout the pandemic to protect the lives - and livelihoods - of all Georgians by relying on data and the advice of public health officials.”

“While we continue to see a decreasing case fatality rate, expanded testing, and adequate hospital surge capacity, in recent days, Georgia has seen an increase in new cases reported and current hospitalizations. Given these trends, I am extending previous COVID-19 safety requirements and guidelines that were due to expire on June 30 at 11:59 PM. Dr. Kathleen Toomey and the Department of Public Health, along with our local public health partners, will continue to monitor ongoing cases and related data to ensure that we are taking appropriate measures moving forward. Together, we can win the fight against COVID-19 and emerge stronger.”

Executive Order 06.29.20.01 extends the Public Health State of Emergency through 11:59 PM on August 11, 2020. The Public Health State of Emergency allows for enhanced coordination across government and the private sector for supply procurement, comprehensive testing, and healthcare capacity.

Executive Order 06.29.20.02 continues to require social distancing, bans gatherings of more than fifty people unless there is six feet between each person, outlines mandatory criteria for businesses, and requires sheltering in place for those living in longterm care facilities and the medically fragile.

The order also outlines that the State Board of Education must provide “rules, regulations, and guidance for the operation of public elementary and secondary schools for local boards of education”.

risk with no means of communicating with their advocates are receiving prepaid cell phones.

“We hear a lot about heroes today, and the volunteers serving our community through these nonprofit organizations truly are heroes! It’s been stressful, disturbing and rewarding as they listen to the needs and help hundreds of people who are in some very tough situations, some for the first time in their lives. Each situation is met with compassion, empathy and a desire to help, day in and day out,” said Kim Jones, president of the Community Foundation.

Donations to the COVID-19 Response Fund are sought and may be made at the home page of the Community Foundation’s website at cfwg.net, by text-to-give at “GIVEWESTGA” to 44321, or by check mailed to the Foundation at 807 South Park

Street, Carrollton, Georgia 30117.

In addition to the grants that have been issued from the COVID-19 Response Fund, the Community Foundation is assisting local nonprofit organizations in communicating with each other as they identify needs and how they can be met and share information about resources such as food sources.

The organizations that have received grants are Bowdon Area United Christian Ministries, Bremen Food and Clothing Bank, Carroll County Emergency Shelter, Carroll Sav-A-Life/Pregnancy Resource Center, Community Christian Council of Haralson County, Grow Haralson, Hands of Creation, Heard County Community Partnership, HEARTS of Cleburne County, Hope for the Journey, Impact International, Impact West Georgia Hope Center, KidsPeace, Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church

Manna House, Open Hands, PASS, Rapha Clinic of West Georgia, St. Margaret’s Community Outreach, St. Vincent de Paul, The Blake House, The Salvation Army, THS Shelter, West Georgia Council on Aging, West Georgia Technical College Foundation and Whitesburg Area Christian Ministries.

The Foundation has introduced a brief grant application for local nonprofits to apply for assistance from the COVID-19 Fund in the areas of food, shelter and emergency needs of clients such as utilities.

The application is available on the Foundation’s website at cfwg.net.

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis as long as funds are available.

The funds must benefit residents of Carroll, Haralson and Heard counties and the nonprofit must be a 501(c)(3) in existence for at least two years.

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Page 18 July 12, 2020

StarNews

www.starnewsgaonline.com

CANDIDATE ERICA TISINGER from page 12

ences in sports, arts, etc.”

“When it was clear that Judge Sullivan was going to retire, I decided that the time was right to pursue my dream,” she stated. “I was ready to leave my law practice to serve from the bench, and I had the full support of my law partners.”

She said her goal is to make sure that everyone entering her courtroom feels they are heard; that they matter; that their case matters; and that justice is served.

“A person may not like the results, but if they had an opportunity to be heard and were treated with respect it would go a long way to promote faith and trust in the judiciary. At the end of the day, I want to help people, and I want to help our community. The best way for me to serve my community personally is through volunteer work and charitable causes that I will continue regardless of the outcome of this race. The best way for me to serve my community professionally is from the bench as the next state court judge.”

Tisinger said she feels that the perception of unfairness is a major problem facing the judiciary system. Fairness and justice should be inseparable. She, herself has been frustrated seeing unfair results—to see a young adult from the wrong side of the tracks receive a harsher sentence because (s)he didn’t have money to be properly defended; to see Kid X and Kid Y to get the same speeding ticket but Kid X’s ticket is thrown out because his family knew the right people.

“There is no greater place where fairness and justice should coexist than in a courtroom,” she declared.

Another problem Tisinger sees is caseload volume. “The Carroll County State Court has a huge caseload, both civil and criminal,” she explained. “Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was already a backlog of cases. However, that has been exacerbated by the judicial emergency order. Georgia Courts were stuck with trying to figure out a new normal. Along with protecting the constitutional rights of the civil and criminal litigants, the courts had to weigh how to protect the health and safety of those litigants, court personnel, and attorneys.

“Courthouses have had to adapt safety protocols. Grand juries and jury trials are still suspended at this time in Carroll County State Court. Some hearings such as arraignments, probation violations, and bond hearings, are held electronically, and attorneys and judges have had to be trained on new electronic methods to adapt.

“No one has a crystal ball to determine when all courts will move back to the ‘normal’ course of business, but in the meantime, there is a backlog of cases waiting to be heard. This is frustrating for civil and criminal litigants (and victims) who want their day in court, but it can also be frustrating for the court system as well to be limited in how to respond to the needs of the public.”

A third issue, she said, is politicization.

The State of Georgia holds nonpartisan judicial elections, which is defined as “not biased or partisan, especially toward any particular political group”.

“I support the U.S. Constitution and The Constitution of Georgia, both of which created a system of government with three distinct branches, and each branch should strive to do its own part,” she said. “The judicial branch interprets the meaning of laws and applies the laws to each specific case. The laws should be interpreted and applied fairly

and firmly as written. When we attempt to insert politics into the mix, it completely undermines the independence of the judiciary. At that point, judges are answering to partisan causes and not the law. It chips away at the system of checks and balances.

You certainly open Pandora’s Box when you politicize a nonpartisan race.”

“Our American criminal justice system is the best system in the world, but that doesn’t mean it is perfect all the time,” declared Tisinger. “There are several areas with room for improvement. I believe we can do a better job when it comes to bond and those who cannot afford it. A nonviolent misdemeanor offender who is arrested and cannot afford bond doesn’t need to be sitting in jail for months on end.”

She said she intends to work to create accountability courts to serve the people of Carroll County. These courts use post-conviction sentencing measures to combat substance abuse and mental health issues. “Without treating the problem, we are failing the futures of our neighbors, our loved ones, and our children.”

She said she feels an increase in the salaries for prosecutors and public defenders would incentivize people to fill those positions. “Our system demands the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, that a criminal conviction be unanimous, that the State prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt, and that all criminal defendants have the right to counsel and the right to confront witnesses. It is the judge’s responsibility to ensure these demands apply equally to everyone. When these demands are not met, it is because we as voters have given power to the wrong person. The best way to ensure the system does its job is to put the right people in the right places.”

From 2006 through 2010, Tisinger served as Staff Counsel to The Travelers Indemnity Companies with David J. Sneed & Association in Nashville, Tennessee. She represented individual and corporate clients in insurance defense litigation.

From August to December of 2005, Tisinger was the Special Hearing Officer, Division of Appeals and Hearings for the Tennessee Department of Human Services in Nashville. She presided over TennCare disenrollment appeal hearings and heard evidence and testimony presented by Appellants and State witnesses.

Tisinger was Staff Attorney to the Honorable Judges Charles S. Wynne and B. E. Roberts, III in the State Court of Hall County in Gainesville, Georgia from 2003 until 2005. The judges presided over civil and criminal trial court, and Tisinger conducted legal research as requested, drafted orders on civil and criminal issues and motions, attended trials and assisted with evidentiary, substantive, and procedural research and rulings.

Tisinger received her Bachelor of Arts in American History degree at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill in May 2000.

She obtained a concentration minor in Peace, War, & Defense.

During this time, she was a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, Ronald McDonald House, and UNC-CH Children’s Hospital.

She was a member of Sigma, Sigma, Sigma Sorority.

She earned her Juris Doctor in May 2003 at the Walter F. George School of Law, Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. She was in the top 35% of her class. She received the CALI (Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction) Award for the highest grade in

Immigration Law. She was on the Dean’s List and was Graduation Marshall.

Tisinger was a student member of the American Bar Association, American Red Cross Volunteer, and a member of the Association of Women Law Students (AWLS). She served on the Career Day Committee from 2001 until 2003 and was Chairperson from 2002 until 2003. She was also a member of Phi Delta Phi Legal Fraternity.

She is a member of Carroll County Bar Association; Georgia Bar Association, 2003present; American Bar Association (ABA), 2003-2006; Gainesville-Northeastern Judicial Circuit Bar Association, 2003-2005, Young Lawyers Division, 2003-2005. She is a 2005 Graduate of National Judicial College.

Erica Tisinger is active in First Baptist Church, where she puts her faith to work as a deacon, lay reader, and children’s acolyte training leader. She also serves on the bylaws committee and personnel committee and is an adult Sunday School teacher and Children’s mission teacher. She is a board member of Carroll County CASA, where she was chair from 2018-2019. She is a member of March of Dimes, Circles of West Georgia, Circles Designer Showhouse. She volunteers for Tanner Medical Foundation and has served as co-chair and vice-chair of the Magnolia Ball.

She has been a member of Carrollton Rotary Club, Carroll County Sertoma, and the Community Foundation of West Georgia.

She was a volunteer for the Blue Jean Ball, which benefits Habitat for Humanity, for 3 years. She was a member of the Junior League of Nashville and volunteered at St. Luke’s Community House in Nashville.

Tisinger cites the oath of office she will take if elected and views it as her guiding principle. “I hope to ‘administer justice without respect to person and do equal rights to the poor and the rich...to faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent on me as judge, according to the best of my ability and understanding, and agreeably to the laws and Constitution of this state and the Constitution of the United States. So, help me God’.”

She vows to remain vigilant that fairness and justice are served in her courtroom. She promises to lead by example and reinforce policies designed to ensure equal treatment of the rich and poor, strong, and weak, and powerful and powerless. “I will treat every person coming before me equally, with dignity and respect. I will apply the law firmly and fairly as written.”

Tisinger stated, “I have no other political aspirations or calling than to serve Carroll County as a judge. I am the only candidate with experience in State Court from the perspective of the judge (including one of the first three DUI courts in Georgia) as I served as a State Court Staff Attorney. Such position gave me invaluable insight into the inner workings of the court, and I attended all civil and criminal hearings and trials and drafted orders for the judges’ review. I am the only candidate to have served as an administrative law judge, where I heard evidence and issued rulings considering the due process clause of the Constitution.”

“As judge, I will apply the law as written and will not be an activist judge attempting to change law from the bench. I understand the accused or civil litigants rely upon judges to enter rulings supported by the law. I understand the law applies just as equally to me. I am honest and fair, and I will treat eve-

ryone with respect. I support sentences that match the crimes committed, and I support justice for victims. I also support helping facilitate lives of purpose that in turn benefit the community that we love.

“Experience counts for a lot, but the character of the person you are electing matters just as much. Your vote and your voice matter, and I humbly request that you vote for me, Erica Tisinger, as your next State Court Judge,” she said.

State Representative District 18 candidate Cason Highower Cason Hightower: Carroll County native, Cason Hightower, is asking for the voters of Carroll County District 18 to send her to the Gold Dome as State Representative.

“My roots trace back over seven generations in both Haralson and Carroll Counties,” she said. “I was born and raised in the 18th district. Other than my years away at school and my time spent working in Washington, D.C., I have lived here all my life. I know the needs for this area.”

This is Hightower’s first foray in the political arena; however, she “gained valuable experience as Representative Lynn Westmoreland’s Deputy Chief of Staff in his Washington, D.C. office.” She worked for Westmoreland for approximately four years.

“I learned first-hand what strong, conservative leadership can do for West Georgia’s families. I had the opportunity to research a number of topics and pieces of legislation that affect our state, region, and nation. I was also able to work with Representative Westmoreland to find solutions to the problems of the constituents here in West Georgia.”

After her stint in D.C., she came home to serve as a funeral director, representing the fourth generation in the family owned small business. “I remain committed to giving back to the community which has given so much to me,” she explained. “My small business background, government experience, and passion for service make me the right candidate to represent the 18th District in Atlanta.”

Hightower said she feels that small businesses are the backbone of the 18th district.

“I am proud to represent the fourth generation in our family owned small business and I am dedicated to promoting and protecting small business interests while making Georgia the best place in the nation in which to do business,” she declared.

“I also understand the importance of our industry partners throughout the district and vow to work with local Chambers of Commerce and programs like ‘Grow Haralson’ and ‘Carroll Tomorrow’ to continue to attract those partners and provide new employment opportunities in the 18th district. I know that cutting government regulation and taxes is the only way to bring better jobs and opportunity to West Georgia.

I am proud to be the only candidate in this race endorsed by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and promise to fight for our local businesses and economy in Atlanta.”

Hightower said the area is blessed with outstanding school systems. She sees the need for education across a broad spectrum of industrial/technological needs.

“We must make sure we are keeping the best and brightest teachers in our classrooms,” she stated. “I promise to promote our children and a more student-centric approach to learning. I would also like to see more technical job training in schools so that See CANDIDATE HIGHTOWER page 31

www.starnewsgaonline.com

StarNews July 12, 2020

Page 19

Villa Rica is one of only 25 cities in state to qualify to offer RURAL tax credits, grants to businesses

by Prissi Sullivan Villa Rica Main Street Director Janet Chumley and Planning and Zoning Specialist Ron Johnson were guest speakers at the Villa Rica Golden City Lions Club on June 24, at The Olive Tree, 150 Stone Street in Villa Rica. Chumley and Johnson presented a program of interest to area businesses (new or established) on the several methods of financing revitalization of the Main Street area of the city in accordance with the Revitalizing Underdeveloped Rural Areas Legislation (RURAL) Georgia House Bill of 2017. There are tax credits and grants available.

Villa Rica is one of only twenty-five designated cities in the states to qualify. Cities and/or counties must have a population of less than 15,000.

“It was this year or never,” declared Chumley, “since our population is a little over 14,900.”

There must be a concentration of historic commercial structures over 50 years old in the zone and must prove economic distress based on poverty rate, vacancies, or blight in the downtown area. The municipality must also follow planning and reporting, Service Delivery Strategy, Government Management Indicators (GOMI) and the Report of Local Government Finance.

A feasibility study has to be done and a strategic plan designed to assist private and public investment.

For those businesses interested in participating, the job creation component must be present to have access to job tax credits, investment tax credits, and rehabilitation tax credits, which is a dollar for dollar reduction

of the income tax owed—not cash in pocket.

Two new, full-time equivalent jobs must be created will receive $2,000 credit per job.

Eligible businesses include professional services or retail, such as law offices, gift shops, restaurants, veterinary offices, breweries, bakeries, and bed & breakfast.

If jobs are maintained, credit can be taken for 5 years—not to exceed $40,000 per year.

Investment Credit for purchasing property downtown is equivalent to 25% of the purchase price not to exceed $125,000 and the property must be purchased after January 1, 2020. The property must be within the designated rural zone district and they must create a minimum of two full-time equivalent jobs.

The tax credits can be claimed over 5 years, but businesses have up to a seven-year window for eligibility.

Thirty percent of qualified rehabilitation costs, not to exceed $150,000—may qualify for tax credits. Labor and material make up the qualified cost. The tax is prorated over three taxable years and cannot be combined with any other state tax credit programs.

Historic significance of structure must be maintained. Generally, the tear down of facilities within a Rural Zone will not be permitted.

BOOST program provides grant money to small business owners and entrepreneurs in the Main Street Service area. Owners may apply for grant funding quarterly. Grant awards are based on availability with a minimum grant of $100 and a maximum award of $1,000. No matching funds are required, and the money does not need to be repaid.

The Economic Vitality Committee of the Main Street Advisory Board will review and

Shown above left and right are Villa Rica Planning and Zoning Specialist Ron Johnson and Main Street Director Janet Chumley. Photo by Prissi Sullivan vote on grant requests.

The Villa Rica Downtown Development Authority’s Facade Grant Program was developed to encourage improvement and investment to the overall revitalization of downtown. It provides up to $5,000 in funds for exterior improvements to a property owner or tenant’s commercial building within local design guidelines. The program requires 1 to 1 matching funds and is a reimbursement program on a first come first serve basis up to the limits of available funds.

The Exterior Improvement Grant Program (EIG) provides financial incentives to help preserve, restore, and rehabilitate the exterior features of buildings located within the Villa

Rica Central Business Districts. Property or business owners within the Districts are eligible to apply for grants up to $2,500. It does not require a cash match.

Georgia Cities Foundation Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) assists cities in their efforts to enhance downtown areas by serving as a partner and facilitator in funding capital projects in the form of an RLF. The foundation provides loans up to $250,000 with a usual repayment period of 10 years— not to exceed 15 years. Real estate acquisition, building rehabilitation, new construction, green space, and parks are eligible.

For further information, contact Janet Chumley at 678-785-1092 or jchumley@villarica.org

J. Smith Lanier & Co.,

J Smith Lanier

A Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC company

1330 North Park Street Carrollton, GA 30117 770-834-4476

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Page 20 July 12, 2020

StarNews www.starnewsgaonline.com

COMMENTARY

Page 21 July 12, 2020

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Please wear your CoVID masks while in public: don’t make the government make more laws

Remember back in the day when you went to a restaurant for a nice evening out (probably it was Friday night/date night), and the next morning when you did laundry, you noticed the distinctive stinky smell of cigarette smoke on the clothes you EDITOR/ wore the night before? Even my hair PUBLISHER smelled of the smoke. All those people smoking before, during, and after the meal, at their tables, inside the restaurant, blowing the carcinogenic smoke up into the air that was then circulated and recirculated for all to breathe all evening. All those particulates made up of the 600 extra ingredients added to the tobacco that, when burned, create 7,000 (yes, seven thousand) chemicals, falling down and around onto your clothes, your hair, your skin.

We are so offended now, appalled even, to think the public was allowed to do that at one time: contaminate us all for an individual’s right to engage in a private activity/risk. And because people could not self regulate their behavior - think about it, this simple kindergarten rule of “don’t hurt others” it is now law that the public is protected from this dangerous/optional activity of smoking in public.

Do you think wearing a CoVID19 mask is different? Think your rights are being violated because it is strongly recommended you wear a mask when you opt to go out in public? And that’s all it is right now, a strong RECOMMENDATION. Feel offended the government is telling you what to do? Too bad. Then don’t go out. You would not consider walking into a post office, grocery store, or business with a lit cigeratte hanging from your mouth, would you? You do have the right to smoke, but you don’t have the right to smoke in public. You have the right to not wear a mask, but you do not have the right - and, again, you learned this in kindergarten - to hurt someone else. I do not want more laws on the books. Laws never go away.

Do what is being recommended and not because it is the government telling you to do so, but because it is the right thing to do to help stop the spread of this potentially, and randomly, fatal illness.

You know, there is a difference between the danger from exposure to cigarette smoke and exposure to CoVID19. A death from lung cancer can take years between exposure and death; a death from CoVID19 can happen within a week of onset of symptoms. The public has a right to remain free from another’s risky behavior. Let’s follow the strongly recommended RULE to wear a mask in public, so we do not have another LAW on the books in this, still, wonderful country of freedoms.

The photo below was sent to me from someone who saw this inside a physician’s office in the West Georgia area. It makes you think, huh? Maybe we have so many, many laws today because the majority of us are just too stupid to do the right things to begin with.

SUE

HORN

Sine Die for Georgia’s historic 2020 Legislative Session On Friday, June 26, 2020, we adjourned the Legislative Session Sine Die which ends the biennial legislative session. Sine Die is a Latin term literally meaning “No More Days”. This was the latest [and longest 166 days] adjourning legislative session in Georgia history.

The House of Representatives took many precautions to mitigate any virus spread, as you will see in my photographs. The members were spaced apart using the chamber gallery and the appropriations meeting room. We were required to be tested for COVID19 before returning and all had to wear masks.

There was much work to be done in the final two weeks after being suspended [not adjourned] for three months. Many of our final days lasted over 18 hours and even included an historic

J

COLLINS STATE Representative (R) DISTRICT 68

770-259-8143 Keep68great@gmail.com Saturday session. The COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on Georgia’s economy and, of course, the state’s budget. We were forced to make tough decisions and yet keep our schools, healthcare, and public safety intact.

We passed an historic Hate Crimes Bill. House Bill 426 would allow enhanced criminal penalties to be levied against those who target their victims on

the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, sex, national origin, religion, or physical or mental disability.

I was equally proud to vote for HB 838 which updates the language of the Office of Public Safety Support that assists with PTSD and crisis counseling, allowing peace officers to file a civil suit against those making false claims against them. It also provides for additional penalties to a person convicted of a crime with bias motivated intimidation, malicious intent to intimidate, harass or terrorize a First Responder.

We increased protections for our seniors living in care homes and our children. Now, those who prey on our children or aging population will feel the full extent of the law to proactively protect

See STATE REP COLLINS page 25

We are in some of the most publicized, turbulent times

can choose whether to engage or Black Lives Matter. All Lives to be silent.

Matter. Black Lives Matter. All We have a freedom of expresLives Matter. sion from our phones, our comWear your Mask. Fake News. puters, our tablets and iPads; we Covid-19 is not worse than the have unlimited access to our flu. opinion and the narratives we Open everything. Let’s remain PASTOR express and follow. The challenge sheltered in place.

Last Shall Be has become: do we continue to Peaceful Protests. Why are you First Ministries fight (since we don’t really reason rioting and looting? Becky.

90 East Church Street with one another)? Or do we seek Karen. Call Tyrone. community? This is one of the The world we live in has Villa Rica, GA 30180 most difficult questions with a become more volatile than the 678-360-5032 stock market. You can’t find food the most publicized turbulent variance of solutions. Here are pictures, cute babies and vaca- times; we have always had wars some suggestions to help us to be tions picture on social media. The and rumors of war, corrupt and H.U.M.A.N.E. Hear to compretimeline is full of social unrest. Full of The challenge has become: do we continue hend and not looking to fight (since we don’t really reason with to reply with a counemotions. Full of sensationalism. And we one another)? Or do we seek community?. . . terpoint. James 1:19: “Let every person be aren’t even talking Here are some suggestions to help us to quick to listen, slow about the pending be H.U.M.A.N.E. to speak, slow to elections in the like. anger”. To solve our issues, we November.

However, the challenge is we See PASTOR NEWTON page 25 We have entered into some of

DERICK

NEWTON

River heroes and madmen

Water does not discriminate. It does not pick and choose who to irrigate, who to flood. It does not favor catfish over gar, yachts over rowboats. It has no opinion, no prejudice, no agenda. If it has a name, it is because we humans insist on it. If it has a history, it is we who decide it.

Water simply is. A cluster of ordinary atoms, one part oxygen, two parts hydrogen - in liquid form water molecules link with their neighbors to make a strong branching bond.

Every day millions, if not billions, of gallons of water pass by the desk where I sit writing these words. Water currents respond to gravity; dips in elevation impel the Chattahoochee to flow to sea level at the Gulf of Mexico. The river has been traveling like this for millions of years, long before there were people around to

SYBIL

THOMAS

River Rambles notice. When the people came, they named the wild river out of respect for the water’s power and mystery. They gave the river a history which was really their own.

In the same way a wild horse is tamed to be ridden, human history rides on the back of the tamed river. Creek Indians, exiled from their home, crossed the Chattahoochee on a Trail of Tears that washed them to Oklahoma.

African slaves were sold downriver to slave markets on the Gulf

Coast. Hundreds of soldiers on either side of the conflict died in Civil War battles fought along the Chattahoochee’s shores. And all the while the water did what it always does: flowed unstoppably, wending its long linear way to the sea, unmindful of the human tragedies being lived out across it.

As I write this, today is June 19th - Juneteenth - a date marking the day in 1865 when the last enslaved peoples learned they were free, two-and-a-half years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, set forth on the first day of 1863.

That was 155 years ago, less than a droplet in river-time, too long in human-time for prejudice to endure.

This year the celebration of Juneteenth has a deep resonance as racial cruelties and inequalities

See SYBIL THOMAS page 25

Page 22 July 12, 2020

StarNews

COMMENTARY

www.starnewsgaonline.com

Empowerment through diversity

BRANDON

WILSON

Millennials Christian Ministry (MCM) bwilson@mcmem powered.org

America, this is not my nation nor is it solely your nation, this is OUR nation. From coast to coast, to the peaks of the Appalachians, what makes America great is not our major cities, industries, complex economy, or government. It is the bonds that hold the United States together and make it the most diverse nation on earth.

The U.S. never had kings or queens, or

thousand-year dynasties. What we do have is income; the cards were not exactly in my favor. However, I yearned for something a claim to being a land of opportunity.

No matter race, creed, gender, or religion, greater. My drive for excellence and success we all share the same inalienable rights to was too great to be hindered by my upbringing, I utilized Life, Liberty, and the . . .we all share the same my past as leverage Pursuit of inalienable rights to Life, Liberty, for the future. It is Happiness. easy to make excuses and the Pursuit of Happiness.

Therefore, no matter for failure however, who is president or Therefore, no matter who is your past does not what party controls president or what party controls define, it prepares!

Congress, they will No matter race, never be able to Congress, they will never be able creed, color, or gender, to impede our diversity and impede our diversity greatness is within and cultural cultural emersion. you. If you keep the emersion.

Our country is a nation of dreamers, a focus, all things are possible. No goliath is place where, through hard work and too great that you cannot conquer.

Our Union can only progress when its dedication, you can pursue your goals and aspirations. Growing up black and low- people stand and fight for great causes such

as securing our diversity, accepting, and embracing the many cultures that embed itself into the fabric of our society.

These words are written on parchment over 200 years ago: “All men are created equal”. But, it was not enough to free the slaves from bondage, it was the people; or produce better working conditions for immigrant farmers in California, the people did that; or, end the atrocities at our border.

From this day forward, we must commit to being the change we wish to see in society. We must unite and be the change empowered by our diversity.

This freedom which so many Americans have fought and died for came with responsibilities as well as rights. And among those are love and charity, and duty and patriotism.

If I go out like I came in, naked and broke, it will have been a great trip

ED

WILSON Thoughts While Shaving cedwilson587 @yahoo.com First, I want to thank District 5 Commissioner Ernie Reynolds for exposing a significant “no bid” contract after a meaningful approved budget increase. In my view, this ongoing no bid contract, at a minimum, represents administrative ineptness and a lack of managerial interest and oversight. It is comforting to have someone on the commission board alert and watching out for the people’s money.

If you are a news junky, you must be very disturbed. I cannot remember a time when the TV talking heads made less sense. 24

hour news, once thought a blessing, has become a curse. CNN and most other national broadcasting networks are so biased only the brain dead should watch them. Fox is a “mixed bag”; some just talk to fill air time and some are obviously biased for Trump. Bloomberg is anti-Trump, but the comments are more subtle than the older networks. I find One American News to be reasonably balanced.

We have political idiocy. Mobs riot and loot and take over interstates and shout “defund the police” reportedly because a “cowboy cop” killed a black man in Minnesota while three rookie cops looked on and did nothing. What does the cop’s criminal act have to do with looting and burning worldwide? Why would a looted or burned business want to rebuild? In my view, the family of the murdered black man has shown more restraint and practical suggestions than any of the political demagogues. One outcome should be a centralized record of complaints and disposition of

such complaints filed against any police officer such that problem officers can be identified quickly and fairly dealt with.

Why do police departments retain “cowboy cops”? Are they too hard to fire? Are they too hard to replace? Does it cost too much to get a new officer certified? I suggest that it absolutely costs too much to retain a police officer who has an authority complex.

Just look at what recent bad judgments have cost worldwide, in looting, property damage, lives lost or futures destroyed.

I have been ticketed by a cop for failing to come to a complete stop (no traffic) at a four way stop intersection. It took four court appearances to get the ticket dismissed. In my view, the purpose of the ticket was to produce revenue as there was, in my view, no safety issue. Should I ever see that cop or any in his organization that I do not personally know in difficulty, I will give him or them a high five as I drive by.

On the other hand, I was once stopped by a sheriff’s deputy for speeding, which I was.

I admitted my guilt, told the officer that I would try to be more mindful, and he gave me a verbal warning. Should I see any deputy sheriff in difficulty, I would stop and try to render assistance.

The point is that a bad cop reflects ill will on the department, and fellow officers should help weed out the bad ones. As a former west coast police volunteer, I can attest that police officers have difficult jobs and they need all the help that they can get.

Police should never be used by the political class to “produce revenue”.

The black man recently killed by a white officer in Atlanta is a close call. The deceased did fire a taser, a deadly weapon, at an officer, but he was running away. No one should have died. Both the deceased and the police officer, who had prior complaints, exercised bad judgment. One life was terminated. One life was negatively changed forever. Both men and their families are the big losers.

populace.

For the first time in my memory, we are now being taught a different way of looking at the behavior of miscreants. The unruly, destructive behavior of the few are now being redefined as constitutional rights; that those who have always been in place to protect civilization and to support the laws of our country, maintain conduct according to the laws laid down by God, are being punished by our own governing system. We hear bystanders of encounters between the law and the lawless” crying out” for Law Enforcement to “Let ‘em go!”

Many times a day, we hear something questionable about the governing body in place at present. We hear more and more about the miscreants “crying out” for mercy after they have committed some unlawful act. Then we hear their supporters “crying out” for revenge against those who are hired and trained to protect the law-abiding citizens and uphold the laws of the land.

Then we hear certain politicians “crying out” for change, and for, oh, yes, revolution.

They want to remove the law keepers, the protectors of the population and then have the government provide free this and free that and first place in any situation where a choice is offered. More and more, we hear our newscasters encouraging us to give them

what they want.

Now, hear me “crying out” to those of us who love America, like to live in peace, and enjoy the freedoms that are available to all of us today; to speak out in favor of the peace keepers, the law keepers, the law rnforcement officers who love our country as it was so few years ago; to stop the trend of just allowing our cities to be torn apart, ransacked by vandals, in the name of “their rights”.

Those playing the “rights” card are entitled to their rights. Those rights have long been available to all of us. All we have to do is accept them and prepare ourselves to function within them. Their rights are many and they are free.

But they aren’t entitled to deny my rights or your rights. It is obvious that their goal is to intimidate and eventually create fear among the citizenry. We who love our country and its history like the protection and lawfulness provided by our brave and dedicated law enforcement officers.

We need to speak out in favor of the ones who have chosen to risk everything they hold dear to make this country the place described by Emma Lazarus, as engraved on the base of the Statue of Liberty. She mentions the Golden Door that opens into the land where freedom abounds. It is time now

for us to speak out in favor of preserving that freedom by standing with those who have dedicated themselves to protecting that freedom and liberty before the Golden Door becomes just more loot for thieves.

The Statue of Liberty stands as an offering of respect to those who fought to bring that liberty to this new country, America. Given the latest surge by those who would destroy so much of our history, that statue might one day become just another target for those who want to rewrite that history by tearing down every measure of respect, every standing reminder of those who created those memorials to the honor, bravery, patriotism of our ancestors and theirs.

To gain that end, they want to tear down the organizations that strive to keep our lives safe and peaceful in the land we love.

Thank you, law enforcement officers, for the peace we feel just knowing you are there, here, among us. The service you provide is your right. It is my wish that every member of your brotherhood be recognized for your service. Thank you for all you give, for all you do - for all you are. For your bravery enough to protect that which is lawful and to restrain and stop that which is not lawful. You have the gratitude and support of millions of our countrymen whose voices are not heard. Thank you.

Thank you for your service, officers

MARY

SAXON WILBURN marywilburn1 @aol.com From day one of the first Earth age, this planet has had a legalized form of policing, maintaining law and order. It is built into our minds from the first day after birth for most of us. We are born, we are fed, and, within a few days, we have learned when it is time for the next feeding. By the time we can walk, we know that certain things are acceptable and certain other things are not.

Those things are taught to us by our parents, if our parents were taught them by their own parents and not brainwashed by society to engage in different behaviors. We are taught by a system of reward or punishment.

We learn that the men and women who choose to protect us, the Law Enforcement Officers, are persons of valor and honor for the most part. They are here to protect us and to ensure that the very laws that protect us are followed, obeyed. They do this by stopping law breakers from endangering the

See ED WILSON page 25

COMMENTARY

www.starnewsgaonline.com

The rest of the story...

ERICA

TISINGER CANDIDATE Carroll County State Court Judge

Hello, Carroll County! This is Erica Tisinger.

Hearing Paul Harvey’s voice come on the radio was great. I listened to him with my grandmother (probably somewhere mixed between her radio always playing Willie Nelson, Conway Twitty, or gospel music). I got excited when I heard him come on, but I loved to hear him say ...”and now you know the rest of the story”.

Wouldn’t we all like to know how our lives (or certain situations) would play out?

Wouldn’t we love to know “the rest of the story” before it happens? I sure would as it deals with this election!

They say hindsight is 20/20. Well, the year 2020 is certainly one we will reflect on. But, will we have perfect vision in the rearview mirror? This year has been one for the books

LANE CANDIDATE Carroll County State Court Judge

My name is Met Lane and I am seeking to serve you as your next State Court Judge.

On the campaign trail, some of our fellow citizens have asked me what the state court judge does, and what makes me the best candidate. Before I address these critical questions, I would like to further introduce myself.

I was born and raised in Carroll County. I am married to a wonderful woman and have three great children. I am a Christian and member of Carrollton First United Methodist Church. I have worked in Carroll County my entire life and have served our community for many years. Currently, I am a law partner at Shadrix, Lane & Parmer, P.C. and handle civil and criminal cases.

Letters to the Editor

July 12, 2020 Page 23

for me: it is the year I lost my law partner, mentor, and friend; it is the year our children were sent home from school because of a pandemic; it is the year of political turmoil that I have never witnessed in my lifetime; and it is the year that I took a leap of faith to become a first time candidate. While I do not know what the future holds on August 11, I certainly know I will never look back and regret entering this race. If you have been following the campaign for State Court Judge, you know we are currently in a runoff. That means nine additional weeks on the campaign trail in yet another twist to this unpredictable year!

I have enjoyed meeting so many people across our beautiful county. I have put myself out there, told my story, and have made my case as to why I am the best choice to serve Carroll County on the bench.

A wise friend told me there are two ways to run a race: scared or unopposed. I certainly wasn’t unopposed as there were two other candidates. So, I have run this race “scared”.

That means not taking a single vote for granted and working hard to earn every vote.

After many months of hard work, I was honored and humbled to receive 49% of the overall votes. On election day, we were confident and knew we had left nothing on the

field. I was proud of the race I had run up to that point. I am even more proud that I have stayed the course despite the curveballs that have been thrown at me this year.

There were some things I expected along the way. There were also things I didn’t expect. I expected this race to be a family affair; I didn’t expect the level of commitment my husband, children, and family have given me to support me on my way to my dream. I expected some help from friends; I didn’t expect the dedication from friends who are now more like family. I expected my family to cheer and celebrate any good results on election night. My husband did.

And my daughter did. (Her joy and tenacity to see me through made my heart swell with pride as I want to be an example for her that she can do, and be, anything she wants.)

I did not expect the reaction I got from my son. He cried and asked me to just quit. He was tired, and he wanted his mamma back. It broke my heart. As much as I want to be an example to my daughter, I also want to be an example to my son that hard things are worth fighting for. That women can be “mamma” and “judge” (or other titles) at the same time.

That there will be bumps in the road and people who try to pull you down; but you need to keep your head high, keep working

for your dreams, and fight to make a difference. Nothing in life is handed to you.

I expected people to ask about my political party and views. I didn’t expect politics to be brought into a judicial race. Maybe that was naive on my part, but I expect the best from people. Georgia judicial races are nonpartisan for a reason. When we attempt to insert politics into the mix, it completely undermines the independence of the judiciary. Nonetheless, there is an attempt to make this race political. While the Georgia Code of Judicial Conduct does not allow a candidate to state his or her political party affiliation, it does allow one to state whether they are conservative or liberal. However, as applied to the judiciary, these terms do not have their typical political and emotional meanings. Ultimately, there is no room for politics when deciding misdemeanors, traffic tickets, and civil disputes. Every judge should apply the law at it is written and never legislate from the bench.

There may be some differences between us, but both my opponent and I have conservative values. To try to convince you otherwise would be a lie. But what does that mean as far as a judicial race? What is a conservative judge? Does it mean that the

Before that, I served as an Assistant District Attorney under past District Attorney Pete Skandalakis.

What are the duties of the state court judge? Why am I the most qualified?

While there are many duties, the two most important are: 1. Presiding over criminal/traffic cases within the county. State courts handle misdemeanor charges, including D.U.I., family violence, and traffic cases. While there are some civil cases filed in state court, over 90% are criminal/traffic cases. I have the real world experience in trying criminal cases, both as a prosecutor and defense attorney.

2. Presiding over civil cases. The state court does not hear civil actions involving divorce, child custody, adoption, parental rights, or any other family law matters. Most of the civil cases involve disputes when a person is injured.

My experience taking on civil matters in the private sector provides me with the same ability to make decisions in these cases. It is safe to say that the state court is a “criminal/traffic court.”

I have also been asked about my views on the law. I have a common sense and conservative judicial philosophy. Like Justice Clarence Thomas and the late Justice Antonin Scalia, I believe that judges have a limited role. Judges should not make law or policy from the bench. Judges should make rulings based on the words of the law; not what a judge wants the law or outcome to be.

If elected, I will look to the words in the Constitution to uphold our citizens’ rights under the 2nd Amendment, to be free of unreasonable searches and seizures, and every other part of the Constitution.

I am solid supporter of past Governor Nathan Deal’s criminal justice reforms and accountability courts. During his eight years in office, Governor Deal saved taxpayers millions of dollars by changing our criminal justice system from being “tough on crime” to “smart on crime.”

This is not to say that being tough on crime will not play a role if I am elected. If convicted, perpetrators of domestic violence and people who continue to put our community at risk on the roads by drinking

and driving will be treated fairly, but firmly.

Perhaps my biggest goal is to create a Veterans Court that will assist our eligible veteran defendants with substance abuse issues and/or mental health struggles. No one deserves a chance to be helped within the criminal justice system more than the warriors who have protected our freedoms.

Lastly, I want for you to know that I have the courage to make unpopular rulings when the law demands it. I will not allow politics or other people to influence my decisions.

While serving on the Carrollton City Council, I put my own financial interests in jeopardy a number of times with my votes.

My decisions were based on what I thought was the right thing to do despite the possibility of losing money, strong political pressure, and/or the many other consequences that a publicservant must face when casting a controversial or unpopular vote.

Early voting begins on July 20, 2020 and Election Day is August 11, 2020. I am prepared to serve you.

I humbly ask for your vote in the upcoming runoff.

I am seeking to serve you as your next state court judge

MET

StarNews

Friends and Neighbors, My name is Tyler Paul Smith. I am writing to you to ask for your vote for the District 18 State House of Representatives on August 11th in the Republican Primary Run- off.

I am a Conservative and have been all of my life. Growing up on our family’s FifthGeneration farm taught me the meaning of faith in God, hard work, and perseverance. I will take these values with me to serve you at the Georgia State House of Representatives.

I served as an aide to three state representatives for three consecutive sessions. We fought against big government; fought to protect our 2nd Amendment Right to Have and Bear Arms; and defended private water rights from underhanded progressives.

This is part of the experience I can and will bring to best serve our community in the State House. I will also fight for the total elimination of the income tax. It is high time we remove this liberal and progressive plague of a tax from our Great State of Georgia.

I defend our U.S. and Georgia Constitutions every day; I will continue this defense as your next State House Representative.

I would appreciate your prayers and your vote. May God Bless you and Keep you!

Very Respectfully, Tyler Paul Smith, Republican Candidate, District 18 State House of Representatives

See ERICA TISINGER page 26

The Runoff for State Court Judge To the Editor, On August 11, 2020 we residents of Carroll County elect our next State Court Judge. The contrasts between the two candidates remain profound. Mrs. Erica Tisinger is running to fulfill a lifelong, personal and professional calling to serve her community in the role of judge. We cannot separate her desire to serve in the capacity as judge from a deep faith and commands such service. She possesses humility and caution, attributes that we should not only admire, but expect from a person adjudicating limits on our liberties.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Tisinger’s opponent, Met Lane, campaigns as a political partisan, much as he did while holding a ward seat in Carrollton. Mr. Lane touts his conservative, political credentials as his chief qualification for judgeship. One detects a sense of entitlement, more so than a desire to serve the public.

Voters from his overwhelmingly conservative ward in Carrollton saw the contrast loud and clear in the June primary. They pulled the lever for Mrs. Tisinger by a 2 to 1 margin. I urge Carroll County voters to conclude likewise and select Erica Tisinger as State Court Judge in August.

Jamey Burns Roopville, Georgia

Page 24 July 12, 2020

StarNews

www.starnewsgaonline.com

COMMENTARY

I ask for your vote August 11th to become your State Representative for District 18

CASON

HIGHTOWER CANDIDATE State Representative District 18 (R)

This summer, many West Georgia families find themselves in the midst of a true crisis. In addition to the stress and anxiety brought about by COVID-19, business owners are worried about making payroll, families are worried about making ends meet, and parent and teachers are concerned about their kids’ education and returning to school in the fall.

As we begin the process of repairing our economy, elected leaders will ask government agencies to make dramatic cuts in order to balance our state budget. That is why on June 2nd I announced that, if elected, I will forgo my legislative salary during my first year in office. I believe we, as public officials, must lead by example.

We should not ask others to do what we are unwilling to do ourselves. And I hope this small gesture can have a positive impact as we begin this difficult process.

Thanks to conservative leadership over the past decade, Georgia has over $2 billion in our “Rainy Day” fund that can help us bridge the gap. I promise to continue that same common-sense approach to governing

if I have the honor to represent Carroll and ply a skilled workforce that would meet current and future needs across the industry Haralson counties in the State House.

I am committed to keeping Georgia the #1 spectrum. We need programs that produce place in the nation to do business while job-holders, not just degree-holders.

I would support policies that promote necbringing more economic opportunities to Carroll and Haralson Counties. There are essary education, training and retraining that will revive staseveral ways we can do that: As we begin the process of repairing ple industries and attract new #1 - By reducour economy, elected leaders will ask ones to our ing government government agencies to make area. regulations so that This plan it is easier for dramatic cuts in order to balance our brings with it someone to start a state budget. That is why on June 2nd the need for business.

I announced that, if elected, I will forgo increased rural Currently, there broadband are outdated and my legislative salary during my first access, keeping unnecessarily year in office. I believe we, as public the best and burdensome hurofficials, must lead by example. We brightest teachdles that individuers in our classals wanting to should not ask others to do what we rooms, and a create a business are unwilling to do ourselves. more studentare forced to centric jump through. It is time that we knock down those hurdles so approach to learning. These are all policies that we can improve our entrepreneurial that I will go to Atlanta fighting for.

In addition to working with Governor environment. #2 - It is time that we make the cost of Kemp to strengthen Georgia’s economy, I doing business less expensive. We must promise to go to Atlanta fighting for our West maintain our competitive tax environment Georgia values: the safety of our community, and I would support current tax incentives protecting innocent life, and defending our which assist companies in investing and 2nd Amendment right.

I will work tirelessly to give children in expanding their footprint in our state. #3 - We must invest in our local educa- West Georgia the opportunity to grow up in tional system. I promise to promote our chil- the same great community I did. That begins dren and technical job training so that we and ends with their safety. I promise to build a workforce that attracts companies to always “Back the Blue” and to work alongour area. West Georgia has the ability to sup- side our Law Enforcement Officers, who put

their lives on the line for us daily. I will support common-sense reforms that improve relations between law enforcement and our community.

I am grateful to have the endorsement of Carroll County Sheriff, Terry Langley, and I would be honored to represent these community heroes at the Capitol.

I believe in the right to life. I am proud to have earned the Georgia Life Alliance’s ProLife Certification.

As your State Representative, I will be a strong voice for those who cannot yet speak for themselves and will work to proactively defend Georgia’s pro-life policies.

As a gun owner and member of the NRA, I promise to fight for our 2nd Amendment rights under the Gold Dome.

The 18th district has so much that we should be celebrating, from our outstanding school systems, to our amazing healthcare providers, and dedicated law enforcement officials. I want to serve the people of Georgia’s 18th House District because I want to keep it the best district in the state of Georgia to live and do business. I honestly believe that my values align with the citizens of this district and I promise to go to the Gold Dome as a representative of the people in Carroll and Haralson Counties.

I am so incredibly grateful to each person who has supported me during my campaign, and I am humbly asking for your continued support in the August 11th Run-Off Election.

Team Hightower’s success is made possible by our friends and supporters.

Let’s keep the momentum going!

engage in on-going conversations with local dents and staff members will be checked health officials to monitor data trends in daily upon arrival with a non-touch infrared preparation for an on-time re-opening. digital scanning thermometer and logged in Below are details of a few of the modifica- as pass/fail at each division.

Parents should not send a child to school tions we are planning for the start of the new with a temperature of 100 degrees or greater, academic year.

• COVID-19 Informed Consent Forms or with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, a producare required. Each student must have a tive cough, or excessive nasal secretions. guardian signed informed consent form on Students should not return to school until they are free of fever file. In the event any stuWe know that some and/or vomiting and diardent, or any member of rhea for twenty-four (24) any student’s household, families may not feel tests positive for or exhibready for their child to be hours.

• Additional cleaning its symptoms of COVIDpractices will be imple19, a legal guardian must on campus, so we have mented. All door handles, contact the school’s purchased technology light switches, and desks administration. No person for each classroom that will be wiped down who has exhibited sympwill allow students to between each class change toms or tested positive for throughout the day with a COVID-19 may return to remote into class. . . disinfectant product. campus until after the Newly purchased dry foggers will be utilappropriate quarantine period expires.

• Instructional cameras for remote ized throughout the day and each evening.

• Protective face coverings will be learning are installed in classrooms. There are some families who may not feel comfort- worn at certain times throughout the day. able having their students seated in a class- Students in grades 1st through 12th will be required to wear protective face coverings room at the start of the academic year.

Therefore, we have purchased and on campus during close proximity activities installed instructional cameras in each class- such as entering/exiting the buildings at the room with a view of the instructional area. start/end of each school day, science labs, Each teacher will have rights to grant per- class transitions, convocations, and advisory mission to an individual student for remote assemblies.

Students in grades PreK-3 through access into the classroom.

• Classroom arrangements and size are Kindergarten will only be required to wear adjusted. Necessary adjustments to the protective face coverings on campus when physical arrangements of our classrooms entering/exiting the buildings at the start/end have been made to allow for as much physi- of each school day.

• Visitors will be limited and screened cal distancing as possible.

• Student/Staff temperature readings before entry into a building. We will be are required. The temperatures of all stu- limiting the number of visitors on campus at

the start of the new academic year. We will also require temperature readings of all visitors and protective face coverings to be worn while in the buildings on campus.

• Lunch service and locations will be restricted. Students will still have the option to purchase lunches from OMA’s vendors or bring their own. Designated eating areas in each division will be identified to place as much distance between the stuents as possible.

• Additional bus transportation protocols. Students opting to ride the bus will be required to have their temperature checked at boarding, distance seating while riding, and wear protective face coverings. The bus will be cleaned daily with disinfectant products.

We are unsure of how long the abovementioned practices will be in place, but we will continue to monitor the recommendations from the medical professionals throughout the beginning months of school.

I know this is a time of great uncertainty, which can be especially trying on families.

Everyone involved – from state officials to our county/city health partners to the leaders within our school building – continue to work intently and diligently to prepare for a safe re-opening for the new academic year.

There are no easy decisions, only decisions that we believe will be made with the safety and health of our school community in mind.

We humbly thank our community for putting trust in the leadership of Oak Mountain Academy as we continue to educate our children during these unpresented times.

We are ready when you are... Together, we are Warriors!

The reopening of Oak Mountain Academy: we are ready when you are!

PATRICK

YURAN

Headmaster OAK MOUNTAIN ACADEMY

With the beginning of a new academic year just weeks away, Oak Mountain Academy’s Leadership Team has been hard at work looking at all possible scenarios, designing potential game plans, collaborating with other Independent Schools, and planning strategically while preparing to pivot as new information comes to light on a daily basis. Situated on over 88 acres of pristine land and enrollment being just over 200 students in PreK-3 through 12th grades, Oak Mountain Academy is positioned beautifully to begin school with an on-time start while accommodating the CDC recommended guidelines.

Currently, we are planning to start school as originally scheduled with August 7th being the first day of classes for all students.

We know that some families may not feel ready for their child to be on campus, so we have purchased technology for each classroom that will allow students to remote into class virtually, if necessary. This will provide our families with the option to be onsite or remote in virtually for instruction.

We have modified classroom layouts to accommodate physical distancing. We have purchased foggers and additional CDC recommended cleaning products for added daily cleanings and we will continue to

www.starnewsgaonline.com where you can unfriend people via one PASTOR NEWTON from page 21 we have to listen to both sides of the issue button, GOD’s kingdom standards are much first and then do constructive work to higher. Our mission is to make attempts (at least three) to reconcile (which doesn’t address our problems.

Understand the view from God’s include the 7 x 70 times to forgive).

Allow yourself to experience perspective. This perspective is to actively love each other: John 13:34-35: “A new uncomfortable fellowship by considering yourself in the same command I give you: scenario. Galatians We live in a microwave, Love one another. As I 6:1: Brethren, if a have loved you, so you instant, disposable society man be overtaken in must love one another. whereas we are quick to a fault, ye which are By this everyone will delete, unfriend, call for the spiritual, restore such know that you are my resignation or termination of a one in the spirit of disciples, if you love one people who have offended us. meekness; another.” considering thyself, This is more difficult I do understand that people lest thou also be than it reads because this must be accountable, we also tempted. We live in a requires patience, humility, compassion, need to ensure that people are microwave, instant, disposable society redeemable, too. forgiveness and to prefer whereas we are quick another before oneself.

Love still is the greatest commandment and to delete, unfriend, call for the resignation or we have to love our neighbors, love our termination of people who have offended us. families, love our communities and even I do understand that people must be love our enemies enough to want greater for accountable, we also need to ensure that all and not for just those who think like you people are redeemable, too. CMB, I am my brother’s keeper. We have the power to have think...

Make an effort to respect the person or teachable moments for the errors WE people who state a position that argues with continue to make. Let’s turn our awkward your view. Matthew 5:23-24 challenges us - moments in tales of how we grew together.

Navigate to a place of common ground. especially those of the household of faith Amos 3:3: “Can two walk together excepted the importance of reconciliation. In a world

SYBIL THOMAS from page 21

have been exposed along fault-lines of policing and healthcare. Around the nation, old ways of being are toppling as fast as Confederate statues and legal chokeholds.

Watching the river go by, I wonder, is this the same water that carried so much human misery downstream? As water tends to recycle itself (think: ocean, clouds, rain, dew), it’s likely this moment’s water has passed by here before. The molecules may not change but their story is still being written. The African-American novelist

ED WILSON from page 22

Bottom line: Vote with your feet and your dollars. When I left California over thirty years ago, San Francisco, once the garden spot of our country had already become a cesspool to be avoided whenever possible.

The failed Democrat-led cities are likely to suffer more residents moving to the suburbs than they expect. Dense population centers are places to avoid. If a cop gives you an order, obey. You can contest the cop’s action later.

Are you familiar with the classic “How to Lie with Statistics”? The 1954 book and its examples are outdated, but the principles endure. Essentially, ALL polls are produced to support or satisfy the party that pays for them. I suspect that many tend to lie to all pollsters or to those who conduct surveys.

The pollsters frame the question to get the answer they want. Example: To find a wife beater they would ask “Do you still beat your wife?” “Yes” you do or “No” you used to. If you want to skew or slant a numerical chart, just adjust the scale, up or down, to make the results look more or less dramatic.

I just saw a pictorial chart of states with an increase of Covid-19. The state was colored in red (to identify with Republican?) if there was one or many cases of Covid-19. Most states were red to give the impression that overall cases were increasing to make the point that we should shutdown the economy again. This chart had two problems: first it did not address the correct issue. Was the shutdown more destructive than the virus?

Then it used a biased presentation to prove the case. You cannot always trust what you

James Baldwin once said: “It takes strength to remember. It takes another kind of strength to forget. It takes heroes to do both.”

Twenty years into a new century, let us be heroes. Let us remember the past without glorifying it. Let us forget our differences even as we celebrate them. Let us give the river a new history. And let us, like water, link with our neighbors to weave a bond that strengthens our common humanity, branching out through our collective consciousness like a river that teaches simply by being. see. You may, heaven forbid, have to think.

Were you taught to think in school or were you just told what to do?

I will close this “how to lie with statistics” issue with an example of how one showed an increase in milk production. An example showed a picture of a cow proportionally taller and longer than the picture of a cow at the starting date with a caption showing the numerical increase in the production of milk per cow. Of course, the brain dead, many of which vote, seeing the pictorial, concluded that cows are larger than they used to be.

These are the same voters that send the same political office holders back repeatedly and expect a different result. Many office holders become entitled while the suckers pay more tax. And so, be aware that statistics are often used, not to present the facts, but to confuse the facts. Truly, caveat emptor is as applicable in watching today’s news as it is to making a purchase of goods and services.

You may be aware that the Republican speaker of the Georgia House was preoccupied with getting the Senate to pass his “hate crimes law”. In my view, a crime is a crime.

Pandering to the mob as to “hate crimes or gender identification” makes me have less respect for any politician. I think that the Speaker might be more comfortable with the Democrats.

Junk mail is another of my aggravations.

Our post office has lost money for years, but how much reduced postage unsolicited junk mail do you receive every week? Why can’t our political representatives fix this? Could it be that these people lobby them and make See THOUGHTS WHILE SHAVING page 26

StarNews

July 12, 2020 Page 25

they be agreed?” If we truly want to be better. We have to improve our focus from being right to, at times, achieving a place of agreement. Sometimes, this might leave us in a place of “agreeing to disagree”. This is important. One way that we can be better is to dialogue and not simply prove our point by showing someone “who we are”.

Engage people of diverse backgrounds to beyond our own narrative. Hebrew 12:14: Follow peace with all men, and holiness,

without which no man shall see the Lord.

I encourage each of you who has invested the time to read these words to proactively seek someone whom you can have an opportunity to learn “why” they are passionate about their viewpoint. Listen to comprehend what they believe, and respect them even when you don’t agree with their words. Take action to make the world around you better, understanding that you have the power to be HUMANE.

STATE REP COLLINS from page 21

must provide verbal & written consent before receiving services from an out of network provider. This was much needed and will end the sticker shock of the final medical bill.

Over the next few weeks, I will be highlighting and expounding on these bills and others.

Until then, stay safe, wear a mask, social distance, and wash your hands!

as well as severely prosecute criminals.

We tackled the unfair practice of medical “Surprise Billing”. If signed by the Governor, when you are treated in an emergency situation, all out of network providers must send the invoice to the insurance company and not you.

For non-emergency services the patient

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THOUGHTS WHILE SHAVING from page 25

political contributions? One way to fight back if there is a postage paid envelope enclosed is to return such envelope stuffed with paper or perhaps some extra weight to increase the return postage cost to the sender.

May help get you off their sucker list. Don’t expect help from the postmaster general.

Junk mail is job security. You pay full price for first class mail. Why don’t the junk mail and non-profits pay full price? If you don’t like being ripped off, call your congressperson if you can get to a human.

How many unsolicited and unwanted phone calls interrupt your daily routine? I must have 500 or more blocked phone numbers, but each week I get calls to refinance my student loans, credit card debt, or house mortgage, thankfully, I don’t have any.

There are endless phone calls to extend my auto warranties. I try to keep these people on the line as long as possible, but when I finally tell them that I want to extend the

ERICA TISINGER from page 26

conservative judge would use her power to impose a political agenda? Absolutely not! I believe a conservative judge follows the law as written and does not attempt to be an activist from the bench.

The legislature is full of people who are able to make and change laws, and that is not the job of the judiciary. A conservative judge is conservative in temperament and qualities of character, measured in speech and decision-making, and promotes no other agenda than to be fair and impartial to all people coming into court.

A good judge doesn’t put others down to promote his or her own interests.

A good judge doesn’t “look out” for certain groups of people to the detriment of others.

A good judge follows the law even when no one is looking and knows the rules apply just as equally to him or her as the people standing in front of them.

A good judicial candidate focuses on his or her own qualifications without negative or untruthful references to the opposition.

A good judicial candidate stands for truth and doesn’t promote or facilitate lies about the opposition.

I have run a positive campaign and tried to run this race with dignity. The only person who has to be happy with my actions is the version of me looking back in the mirror on August 12.

I am not seeking power. I am seeking

WGTC NEW CAMPUS from page 9

precision manufacturing, industrial systems and machine tool programs.

“Our faculty and staff are doing a terrific job using a 50-year-old facility that we have remodeled and massaged and lived in,” WGTC President Scott Rule said. “They have been asking for more because they can imagine all the enhancements and extras and benefits they can provide our students when they have the right space, configured the right way to really do what they want to do.”

Including a smaller third building to house maintenance, total square footage for the campus buildings is 146,697 square feet.

As for the site layout, the first building will be prominent to technology park visitors, facing a large roundabout already present on site. A two-story glass façade will welcome guests to the gray brick facility.

The second building will sit behind and slightly lower than the first with greenspace space between. Large parking areas surround

warranty on my 1947 Frazer Manhattan or my 1950 Studebaker, I get a “click” when they hang up. As they waste your time, try to waste theirs.

Comments on the stock market: What a ride. As a child of the Great Depression, I tend to be conservative. My buying rule is: If the stock or exchange traded fund is undervalued and pays dividend and earnings comfortably supporting that dividend and debt is low or well covered by cash flow, buy it. I target a sales price that is generally 90% of acceptable forecasts, but if I get lucky and get a bump in 6 to 8 weeks, I will take a modest profit and say thank you and move on. I use at least three research sources to judge value and forecasts. My results won’t buy airplanes or fancy cars, that I really don’t need, but will buy hamburgers that I like.

If I can go out like I came in, naked and broke, it has been a great trip.

Hope that you found something of value, have a nice day. responsibility. A responsibility to uphold the laws of the State of Georgia, to apply the law fairly and firmly, to hold people responsible for their actions, and to maintain the impartial and independent role of the judiciary. It is a responsibility I do not take lightly.

The person who is elected will take this judicial oath of office: “I swear that I will administer justice without respect to person and do equal rights to the poor and the rich and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent on me as judge, according to the best of my ability and understanding, and agreeably to the laws and Constitution of this state and the Constitution of the United States. So help me God.” When considering who should take this oath to become our next State Court Judge, I urge you to choose me.

Becoming a judge isn’t something I decided to do on a whim. It is something I have strived to obtain for most of my life.

No matter how badly I have wanted the job, the ultimate power lies within the hands of the people. So when voting, remember these words by Paul Harvey: “One vote.

That’s a big weapon you have there, mister.”

Your one vote matters: it matters to Carroll County, it matters to my family, and it matters to me. Use it wisely.

Maybe my son will celebrate, too, on election night this time. But we have to wait patiently until August 11th to know...the rest of the story. both buildings, with 693 spots proposed. A new driver training range will be constructed to support the commercial truck driving program.

The campus will be constructed on about 40 acres of the technology park donated by the Carroll County Development Authority.

The campus site will fill the left side of the Technology Park, if facing it from the Highway 166 Bypass. The Carroll County Development Authority retains the right side of the Park and continues to market it for possible development. Buffalo Creek marks the extreme left of the Park, behind the campus site. A portion of the Park there is in a floodplain and preserved as wetlands.

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Page 28 July 12, 2020

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You cannot pour from an empty vessel

KIM

REINE Certified Intuitive Life Coach

Since I was young, I have always pushed myself to do more than was required of me in my personal life and in my professional life. Always saying ‘yes’ to what was asked of me, even though it would exhaust me. I never really took time for myself.

Fast forward to adulthood and becoming a parent, and still for many more years, I continued to push myself and always put myself as my last priority. It wasn’t until a few years ago while on a healing journey did I actually learn the importance of self care.

COMMENTARY

“Rest and self care are so important. day, not just when you get sick. Learning When you take time to replenish your spirit, how to eat right, reduce stress, exercise it allows you to serve others from the regularly, and take a time-out when you need overflow. You cannot pour from an empty it is the foundation of self-care and can help vessel”- Eleanor you anti-stress, stay Brown What is self care? Self-care is healthy, and be During this resilient. the practice of taking action to journey, I learned that Getting started preserve or improve one’s own I cannot pour from an practicing self-care health and is the practice of empty vessel. This isn’t always easy. meant I needed to rest Most of us are very taking an active role in my body, mind and protecting one’s own well-being busy, have stressful spirit, and that I jobs, kids, a partner, and happiness, in particular needed to work on dating life, aging during periods of stress. feeling fulfilled. parents, or are too What is self care? consumed with our Self-care is the practice of taking action to smart phones to make time for ourselves. preserve or improve one’s own health and is “Me-time” is usually last on the agenda. the practice of taking an active role in Worse, we sometimes feel guilty about taking protecting one’s own well-being and the time to take care of ourselves; so getting happiness, in particular during periods of started with self-care can be challenging. stress. It’s so important to make sure you take Fortunately, there are many things you can good care of your body, mind, and soul every do to engage in self-care. It can be as simple

The heart of a parent, and a county commissioner

ERNIE

REYNOLDS CANDIDATE District 5 Carroll County Commissioner INCUMBENT

ereynolds@carrollcounty ga.com 770-851-6215 You parents know what I mean. When your child cries out in pain, your immediate reaction is to run to them and fix what is wrong - to eliminate their hurt. You quickly wash the cut and put on a bandage - or rush them to the doctor to fix the broken bone.

You get them out of pain and healed ASAP! I’ve written before of my son’s prior episode with Lyme Disease and how he cried out for help and how I immediately sought to fix it, but couldn’t. There was no immediate bandage; there was no doctor to re-set the bone and promptly let it start healing. Instead, it took a long time to even find out what was wrong and then an even longer time (years) of treating - and yes, years of fortitude on his part to endure through it all, until this illness was corrected and put in the past. I went through that with my son years ago - and he is, and always was, a gem of a guy, a true treasure.

Events of recent weeks have caused me to reflect back on this. My community cried out in pain to me. I rushed and tried to fix their hurt and resolve their trouble. I found there was no quick cure. I found the problem could not be resolved by the stroke of a pen or the voice of me pronouncing their pain to others. But, I did find an immediate swelling up in my heart to help them and to be there for them and to accomplish all I could as quickly as possible - to bring peace back to them and to rid them of their distress.

What’s wrong, you ask? And why can I, as their District 5 Commissioner, not just simply fix it and resolve their/our problem?

First - the simple answer, then the explained answer.

What’s wrong is that movements are being made to place a rock quarry in the

community just north of Whitesburg (Black just like a crop of soybeans! I found this Dirt Road/Hutcheson Ferry Road) and there absolutely ridiculous when county attorneys are rumors of a second such quarry being told me of this being the reason for the discussed a few miles south of Whitesburg in problem. I wish I knew why in the world this was never resolved the Springer Road area.

Why can’t I bring when county officials This second one may not be a problem, as it immediate relief and stop this had the opportunity and appears right now that pain? Because of ridiculous knew of the problem in 2011. this land is under a The county’s 1985 deeded “Conservation local government ordinances Use” agreement, which that have been in place since ordinance places rock prohibits mining and 1985 and were never dealt quarry operations under Agricultural zoning - as such rock quarry with in 2011. They were a permitted use! operations, but I am still reviewed and problems stating that a permitted looking into this. So, the immediate threat of an were disclosed, but never use of agriculturallyzoned property is the actual operating rock resolved. With no action “development of quarry is the Black Dirt taken in 2011, for whatever natural resources, Road location. including the removal Why can’t I bring reason(s), to fix the known of minerals and natural immediate relief and stop this pain? Because of problems with the ordinance, materials…” In other the can was simply words, you are ridiculous local permitted to remove government ordinances kicked down the road, rock, just like you were that have been in place until now. I’m now fixing harvesting and since 1985 and were these things. removing a crop of never dealt with in 2011. soybeans!

This is They were reviewed and problems were disclosed, but never resolved. ludicrous!

This was shocking to me. And this is why I With no action taken in 2011, for whatever reason(s), to fix the known problems with the am taking immediate steps to correct and ordinance, the can was simply kicked down resolve this absolutely ridiculous ordinance, the road, until now. I’m now fixing these which brings turmoil to peaceful, agriculture communities. things.

Of course, companies are jumping at the Now, as I write this on Saturday, July 4th, I am taking immediate action to place a chance to take advantage of this ridiculous moratorium on applications for Rock looseness in Carroll County’s ordinance. It is Quarries in the county. This Moratorium will a loophole that was known and should have be presented and voted on in our Tuesday, been fixed about twenty years ago! Why not July 7th Board of Commissioners meeting. If resolve it then? You’ll have to ask those who passed, this will place a temporary were in positions of authority then - in 2011.

Moratorium on developing Rock Quarries - All I know is that I am taking immediate giving us time to fix the county’s ordinance, steps to fix it now - and it will not be kicked which should have been done in 2011. I am down the road under my watch!

Meanwhile, the Development of Regional working with county attorneys to revise the county’s ordinance, placing proper zoning Impact (DRI) state application was filed by and conditional use controls on Rock the Black Dirt Road firm. This DRI Quarries. These revised ordinances will be application is a state Department of presented and voted on in our August Board Community Affairs process, the first step of Commissioners meeting. Thereafter, the toward getting an actual rock quarry operation approved at a location. problem will be fixed!

In this process, comments are gathered What’s wrong with the county’s current 1985 ordinance is that it treats rock quarries from several government and community

as having quiet time with a cup of coffee or reading time at night with a glass of wine, or becoming more in-depth with daily meditation time and work out routines.

No matter which approach you choose, the goal is to figure out which self-care strategies work best for you, learn how to use these strategies, and implement them in your regular routine so you can boost your well-being not only today but for a lifetime.

I started out with 10 minutes of quiet time with meditation and prayer in the morning. I did that for about a month, and then increased my time and added a morning meditation time with a simple workout routine using yoga.

On the days I get rushed and skip my routine, I feel completely off balance and not grounded or centered. My hope for you is to find or make time for yourself, and in doing so you will feel renewed and restored.

“Self care is giving the best of you, instead of what’s left of you.”- Katie Reed

organizations, as well as the general public.

The county will submit their comments, citing concerns including roads, noise, safety. I urge you to also submit your concerns during this comment phase. The entity collecting these comments is the Three Rivers Regional Commission and comments should be submitted to Kim Dutton at that Commission. Her email address is ksdutton@threeriversrc.com It is important to join the efforts of the community, if you are interested in opposing this rock quarry. Since the DRI for the Black Dirt location was filed under the 1985 ordinance version (before we can pass the revisions I am putting in place, as discussed above), your efforts are very important.

There is a community group assembled on FaceBook titled “Citizens Opposed to Carroll County Rock Quarry.”

This group is working steadfastly to address the situation and I am also working with them. Most recently, we went to Meriwether County to visit with those county officials and review documents they had in their prior opposition to a rock quarry being placed there.

My heart is with my community. I have taken the necessary steps to fix the leftover problems of prior county authorities, especially those of the 2011 era, who had identified - but never corrected - these zoning problems. I will continue to work with county attorneys, my fellow commissioners, county staff, and persons throughout my community to put an end to the ludicrous zoning loopholes that allow consideration of such operations in peaceful agricultural districts. This, our community, is a treasure - and I will not sit back or kick the can down the road.

It’s puzzling why no one before this has addressed the problem. Government should not kick the can down the road - it only does more harm to those later. Stand up and do what’s right NOW. As Lou Holtz said, “There’s never a right time to do what’s wrong - and there’s never a wrong time to do what’s right.”

Please follow me on my FaceBook account, as I’ve posted all updates regarding this situation there at “Ernest ‘Ernie’ Reynolds - District 5 Commissioner.”

www.starnewsgaonline.com did not happen in 2011.

NO QUARRY from front page Group coordinator Tonya Spinks has been residents - those who would be most affected by an operational quarry - have formed the a resident of Whitesburg for more than forty group “Citizens Opposed to Carroll County years. She is the group’s leader and organRock Quarry”. The group is well organized izer. She may be contacted at: carrollcounwith core members assigned specific goals to tystrong@gmail.com. Under Spinks’ guidgather and disseminate relative information ance and energy, projects have been identiregarding possible dangers of having an fied and members have volunteered to carry out specific goals for operational rock quarry in their community.

Group coordinator Tonya each project.

• Group member Dee The group held their Spinks has been a resident Perry is executive direcmost recent meeting of Whitesburg for more tor for the Georgia 6:00 p.m. Thursday, July 2nd, at Banning than forty years. She is the Agricultural Land Trust, Mills retreat/inn, group’s leader and organizer. www.aglandtrustga.com, agtrust@gmail.com, 678Whitesburg, in a large She may be contacted at: 977-2574. She has voloutside covered pavilunteered to research the lion (to meet current carrollcountystrong@ quarry process in state social distancing gmail.com Georgia (EPD regularules). Approximately Under Spinks’ guidance tions and regional com70 people were in attenmission process and dance to the meeting and energy, projects have responsibilites as they that was streamed live been identified and relate to: on Facebook. members have volunteered - any environmental Gathering from the impacts by a rock quarry information presented to carry out specific on the area, specifically and the discussions at goals for each project. concerning water, soil this, the goal to prevent and land; the quarry, at this time, previous quarry oppostitions; is to prove environmental danger to the area, - impacts of farmland loss; perhaps to wildlife, the river, well water sup- and to communicate with other land proply, or the citizens themselves. tection groups The quarry is proceeding legally under • Group member Shanda Cook will be 1985 Carroll County Ordinances which allow rock quarries. This means that the working with the Georgia Forestry decision to approve the quarry does not have Commission for “guidance”, and on the to go before the county commission. In group’s fundraising programs • Group member Tim Banks served on March 2011, a 71 page “Zoning Ordinance Draft” was prepared by the Carroll County Governor Zell Miller’s River Care Department of Community Development by Assessment team, and worked on the incepArtagus Newell, zoning administrator, under tion of the Chattahoochee River cleanups for the watch of then Chairman Bill Chappell. River Keeper and River’s Alive. His focus On page 59 Section 5.4 of the draft is the will be on “all things water”. He spoke to Permitted Use Table. Listed at the bottom is the crowd on well water levels potentially “Quarry, Mining, Oil & Gas Extraction” being affected by water use by a quarry.

• Group member Jenny Corbin is conductwith the change of a “C” for Conditional Use to replace the “P” for Permitted Uses. ing research related to the impact of a quarry Having a “Conditional Use” designation on any possible endangered species. Corbin would have then required Green Rock, LLC said she has been told of an endangered bat representatives to come before the board of species in this area, and would like anyone with any information to contact her at: commissioners for approval. alauriacorbin@gmail.com This updated zoning draft did not advance, • Group member Denise Bennett Burks is was not adopted by the board, so the county a firefighter and paragovernment has continmedic and has owned Group member Dee Perry is ued to this day operate under the 1985 zoning executive director Georgia property in Whitesburg for more than thirty ordinances.

Agricultural Land Trust, years. She has volunGroup member teered to conduct www.aglandtrustga.com Kevin Jackson, who research on the impact of was the District 5 agtrust@gmail.com a quarry on the “commCounty Commissioner 678-977-2574 unity” and environment. on the board in 2011, • Group member Katy She has volunteered to spoke to the assembled crowd on Thursday research. . . EPD regulations Goolsby is a special education teacher with the evening offering a and regional commissioner Carroll County Schools, vague apology about the rock quarry being process and responsibilites as and handles the group’s Facebook presence and able to advance without they relate to. . . any community outreach. the county government environmental impacts by a • Group members having any teeth to stop Margie and Bill Bouris rock quarry on the area, it. Jackson was elected to the board in 2008 specifically concerning water, have lived on Black Dirt Road for more than forty and reelected in 2012. soil and land. . . years. They will be Jackson apologied sayworking to obtain stateing he “did not catch it” and that at the time his “mind was on Wolf ments from stakeholder entities.

Also speaking at the meeting was District Creek” development.

Commissioner Ernie Reynolds. He brought During his years on the board, Jackson’s overall opposition to decisions/proposals the group up to date with his proposal to made by Chappell were well documented in make a motion at the Tuesday, July 7th comlocal newspapers/radio. But, at Thursday’s mission meeting to place a temporary morameeting, Jackson did not reference any spe- torium (60 days) on developing rock quarries cifics as to why the proposed zoning changes in the county. This will allow time for the

group to conduct their research, and perhaps advance their cause. The moratorium will also allow the county time to consider zoning ordinance changes, but any changes cannot be retroactive, thus cannot be applied to the Green Rock, LLC quarry.

Nearing the conclusion of the one hour meeting, Dee Perry made three remarks of interest. One was that, to her knowlege, no rock quarry permit has been denied in the

StarNews

July 12, 2020 Page 29

state of Georgia; two, that she believes this process could take one to two years; and three that there have been “counties that have stopped” rock quarries.

In summary, at this point, Green Rock, LLC has completed and submitted the required Development of Regional Impact application to the state Evironmental Protection Division, and now begins submitting required environmental information.

Page 29 Green Rock map

The Conceptual Site Plan for a 360+- acre rock quarry to be located bordering Black Dirt Road in Whitesburg (near Byers Crossroads) on one side and the Chattahoochee River on another side.

Page 29 Finger pointing at map

Barbara Miley of 2285 Black Dirt Road, Whitesburg, points to her home in relation to the proposed rock quarry outlined in blue. It would border her back yard, with a “200 Foot Buffer” (see top drawing). The other numbers shown in white are the other homes in the vicinity of the quarry. Photo by Sue Horn

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for complete obituary listin

Shirley F. Alexander, ageage 71,71, Tiffanee “Tiff” Cook, Master Danny JoeJoe Jones, Jr.,Jr., Lee Jerry Scott Shedd, age 53, Shirley F.Shedd, Alexander, Tiffanee Dawne “Tiff” Cook, Shirley F.Dawne Alexander, age 71, Jerry Tiffanee Dawne Cook, Master Danny Jerry Scott Shedd, age 53, Jerry Master Danny Joe Jones, Jr.,71, Scott Dawne Shedd, “ Waymon Jacobs, 81, born January Tiffanee Dawne “Tiff”age Cook, Helen Lynell Collins, age 63, born Shirley F.age Alexander, age Tiffanee Master Danny Joe Jones, Jr., Scott Shedd,“Tiff” ageJones, 53, Jerry Scott 53, Richard Leon Adams, age 75, bornage January born November 27, 1947, died 45, born October 12, 1973, age 2 months, born May 16, 2019, died Monday, July 8, 2019 born November 27, 1947, died age 45, born October 12, 1973, born November 27, 1947, died age 45, born October 12, 1973, age 2 months, born May 16, 2019, died Monday, July 8, 2019 age 2 months, born May 16, 2019, died Monday, July 8, 201 age 45, born October 12, 1973, born November 27,2020 1947, died age 45, born Octobe 2 months, born May 16, Monday, July 8, 24, 1939, died Tuesday, June 23, died Monday, July 8, 2019 September 26,2019, 1956, died died Monday, JuneJuly 29,2019 22, 1945, died Friday, June 12, 2020age Sunday, July 14, 2019 died Friday, July 12, 2019 died Thursday, 4, 2019 David Ronald Simpson, age Sunday, July 14, 2019 died Friday, July 12, 2019 Sunday, July 14, 2019 died Friday, July 12, 2019 died Thursday, July 4, 2019 David Ronald Simpson, age died Thursday, July 4, 2019 David Ronald died Friday, July 12, 2019 Sunday, July 14,age 2019 died Friday, July Simp 12, 2 diedJames Thursday, July 4, 2019 David Ronald Simpson, age David Ronald Simpson, age Ralph Melvin (Mel) Fain, 69, diedJuly Dwight Bishop, Jr.,age age 62, B.2020 Dean, age 92, “Marjorie” Nell Lovvorn, age 70,70, born July 21, 1948, died Dwight Bishop, Jr., age 62, James B. Dean, age 92, Roy “Wayne” Baldy, 74, born on Dwight Bishop, Jr., age 62, James B. Dean, age 92, “Marjorie” Nell Lovvorn, age born July 21, 1948, died July “Marjorie” Nell Lovvorn, age 70, born July 21, James B. Dean, age 92, Dwight Bishop, Jr., age 62, James B. 1948, Dean “Marjorie” Nell Lovvorn, age 70, born July 21, 1948, died July 70, born July 21, 1948, died July born September 28,28, 1956, died born September 02, 1926, died Monday, June 29, 2020 86,86, born August 3, 1932, died 09, 2019 born September 1956, died September 02, 1926, died born September 28,1932, 1956, died born September 02, 1926, died born August 1932, died 09, 2019 Harry Lee Cooper, age 96, born August 13,3, 86,born born August 3,28, 1932, 2019September 02, born September 02, died June September 1956,died died09,born January 25, 1946, died1926, Saturday, 6,born 2020 86, born August 3, died 09, 2019 09, 2019 Tuesday, July 9, 2019 Wednesday, July 3, 2019 Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Zellie Fred Sprewell, ageage 94, Tuesday, July 9, 2019 Wednesday, July 3, 2019 Sara Frances (Bobbie) Daniell Payne, age Tuesday, July 9, 2019 Wednesday, July 3, 2019 Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Zellie Fred Sprewell, 94, Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Zellie Fred Sprewell, Wednesday, July 3, 2019 Tuesday, July 9, 2019 Wednesday, July 3, 20 Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Fred Sprewell, age 94, 1923,Dickerson, died Monday, JuneZellie 1, 2020 Zellie Fred Sprewell, age 94, Arthur G.Brasseal “Joe” Berger, Jr.,Bonner, age 73, born Donald “Don” Bonner, Barry Bushon ageage Andra Dixon McGill, age 76,76, born February 28, 1925, died Donald Brasseal “Don” Barry Bushon Dickerson, Donald Brasseal “Don” Bonner, Barry Bushon Dickerson, age Andra Dixon McGill, age born February 28, 1925, died Andra Dixon McGill, age 76, born February 28, Dick 19 98, died June 11, 2020 Barry Bushon Dickerson, age Donald Brasseal “Don” Bonner, Barry Bushon Andra Dixon McGill, age 76, born February 28, 1925, died born February 28, 05, 1925, died John Cramer, ageborn 55,October born February ageage 76, born June 1943, died born September 7,David 1950, died born 18,18, 1941, died April 26, 1947, died Monday, June 1,68, 2020 Saturday, July 27, 2019 76, born June 05, 1943, died 68, born September 7, 1950, died age 76, born June 05, 1943, died 68, born September 7, 1950, died October 1941, died Saturday, July 27, 2019 born October 18, 1941, died Saturday, July 27, 2019 68, born September 7, 1950, died age 76, born June 05, 1943, died 68, born September 7 born October 18, 1941, died Saturday, July 27, 2019 Clarence Sheppard, age 88, born July 22, Saturday, July 27, 2019 Wednesday, July 10,Bennett, 2019 Friday, July 19, 2019 Wednesday, July 17,17, 2019 Daniel Lance Walker, ageage 40,40, Friday, 12, 1965, died Thursday, June 18, 2020 Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Friday, July 19, 2019 Wednesday, July 10, 2019 Friday, July 19, 2019 Wednesday, July 2019 Daniel Lance Walker, Bessie Faye Perry age 91, died Wednesday, July 17, 2019 Daniel Lance Walker Friday, July 19, 2019 Wednesday, July 10, 2019 July 19, 2019 Wednesday, July 17, 2019 Daniel Lance Walker, age 40, Daniel Lance Walker, age 40, 1931, died July September 1, 2020 John D. D. Brown, Jr.,Jr., ageage 53, Bobbie Jean Dodderer, ageage 84, Eugene Parker Mullis, Jr.,Jr., age 18, 1978, died John Bobbie Jean Dodderer, John D. Brown, Jr., age 53,84, Bobbie Dodderer, age 84,ageborn Eugene Parker Mullis, born September 18, 1978, died Eugene Parker Mullis, Jr., age September 19 Bobbie Jean Dodderer, agedied 84, 53, Eugene Susan Yvonne Gaines, 61, Jean born August John D. Brown, Jr., age 53,born Bobbie Jean 18, Dodde Parker Mullis, Jr., age bornage September 18, 1978, died born September 18, 1978, Thursday, July18, 2,Brown, 2020 born August 1965, died July born July 9, 1935, died Monday, Nancy Steely, age 77, born June 3, 1943, 70, born December 31, 1948, died Sunday, July 21, 2019 born August 18, 1965, died July born July 9, 1935, died Monday, born August 18, 1965, died July born July 9, 1935, died Monday, 70, born December 31, 1948, died Sunday, July 21, 2019 70, born December 31, 1948, died Sunday, July 21, 2019 born JulyJuly 9, 1935, died Monday, 70, born December born August 18, 1965, died July born July 9, 1935, di 31, 1948, died Sunday, July 21, 2019 Sunday, 21, 2019 18, 1958, died Monday,Monday, June 8, 2020 Myron Bretzmann, age 74, born 22,Juel 2019 July 22,22, 2019 July 8, 2019 Deborah West, June 30, 2020 22, 2019 2019 22,July 2019 22, 2019 Monday, July 8, 2019 Deborah Ann West, July Monday, July“Debbie” 8,“Debbie” 2019 Ann Deborah “Debbie” A JulyDeborah 22, 2019 22, 2019 22, 2019 Monday, July 8, 2019 Fazio, age July Deborah “Debbie” Ann died West,Tuesday, “Debbie”Phillips Ann West, Marie Elizabeth Bryce, Anna Marsella Linda Faye (Estes) Green, age 71, Randy Lee Nichols, age 66, age 58, died July 22, 2019 November 12, 1945, died Friday, June 26, Marie Elizabeth Phillips Bryce, Anna Marsella Fazio, age Marie Elizabeth Phillips Bryce, Anna Marsella Fazio, age Randy Lee Nichols, age 66, age 58, died July 22, 2019 Randy Lee Nichols, age Bryce, 66, age 58, Jerry Wayne Thompson, age 70, died died Marsella July 22, 20F Anna Marsella Fazio, age Marie Elizabeth Phillips Anna Randy Lee Nichols, age 66, age 58, died July 22, 2019 age 58, died July 22, 2019 ageage 89, born September 14,14, 1929, 85, born on September JanJan 1, 1, 1934, died born June 24,Jan 1953, Friday, Wallace Allen Worthan, age born 1929, 85, on 1934, age 89,born born 14, 1929, 85, born on 1, died 1934, died born June 24, 1953, died Friday, Wednesday, July 1,died 2020 Wallace Allen Worthan, age 85, born June 24, 1953, died 14, Friday, Wallace Worth 85, born 89, onAllen JanSeptember 1, 1934, died 2020 age 89, born September 1929, born Allen on Jan 1, born June 24, 1953, died Friday, Tuesday, June 16, 2020 Wallace Allen Worthan, age Wallace Worthan, age died Saturday, July 20,20, 2019 Monday, July 8,July 2019 July 26,26, 2019 56, died Monday, July 15,15, 2019 died Saturday, July 2019 July Monday, July 8, 2019 died Saturday, 20,Thomas 2019 Hall, Monday, July 8, July 201915, 2019 July 2019 56, died Monday, July 2019 July 26, 2019 56, died Monday, July 15 Monday, July 8, 2019 died Saturday, July 20, 2019 Monday, July 8, 2019 26, 2019 56, died Monday, James age 78, born August 56, died Monday, July 15, 2019 Michael Anthony Burton, age 67, born June Reid William Walker, age 88, bornage May Earl Wayne Carden, age 80, Harris NellNellGriffin AraAra BellBell D. D. Sanders, ageage 79,79, Carol Judith 55, Earl Wayne age 80, Ara Harris GriffinJennings, Jennings, Earl Wayne Carden, age 80, Carol Harris Nell Griffin Jennings, Sanders, Carol Judith Chapman, age 55, Carol AraEarl Bell D. Chapman, Sanders, age 79,80, Judith Chapman Harris Nell GriffinCarden, Jennings, Wayne Carden, age Harris Nell Griffin Bell D. Sanders, age 79, Judith Chapman, age 55, Carol Judith Chapman, age 55, 24,Tuesday, 1941, diedJuly Saturday, July83, 4, 2020 October 29,29,1938, age 83, died 2, 2,age 13, 1932, died Saturday, June 13, 2020 7,born 1953, died Monday, June 22,died born August 06, 1939, died July June 24,24, 1964, died Sunday, born October 1938, died age 83, died Tuesday, July born October 29, 1938, died died Tuesday, July 2,Julyborn 06, 1939, died born June 1964, died Sunday, born August 06, 1939, died July 1964, died age 83, died Tuesday, July 2,2020 born October 29, 1938, diedborn ageJune 83,24, died Tuesd born August 06, 1939, died July born born June August 24, 1964, died Sunday, born JuneJune 24, 1964, died Sunday, Friday, 28, 2019 2019 24, 2019 July 7, 2019 Donna Kay Allums Hobbs, age 59, born Clyde Irvin Wolverton, age 86, born May Friday, June 28, 2019 2019 Friday, June 28, 2019 2019 24, 2019 William F. Carroll, age 76, born September July 7, 2019 24, 2019 July 7, 2019 2019 Friday, June 28, 2019 2019 24, 2019 July 7, 2019 July 7, 2019

14, 1943, died Monday, June 1, 2020

April 5, 1961, died Tuesday, June 30, 2020

3, 1934, died Monday, June 22, 2020

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StarNews July 12, 2020

Page 31

Four year old smoking ban ordinance to begin to be enforced by City of Villa Rica Mayor Gil McDougal: “If a law is on the books, it should be enforced”

by Prissi Sullivan The City of Villa Rica will begin the enforcement of the Smoke Free Air Ordinance of 2012. After complaints from several citizens regarding smoking in public places, Mayor Gil McDougal questioned the feasibility of a smoke free ordinance. He was informed by City Attorney David Mecklin that such an ordinance already existed.

Interestingly enough, according to Mayor McDougal, the ordinance was originally tabled in 2012, and, seemingly, forgotten. In June 2016, the ordinance again came before the council to be amended and was again tabled. It was included in the codification of Villa Rica ordinances in 2016, which was approved by the City Council.

Later, when the city charter was amended, the Council voted that all ordinances on the books were valid and in full force.

Enforcement of the ordinance went into effect that July 1 - four years ago There has been a bit of push back from some local establishments, but McDougal is

adamant that “if a law is on the books, it should be enforced.”

Dani Dalton at Stix Bar & Grill is not sure how or if their business will be affected.

“Some of the regulars don’t like it,” she stated, “but I think it’s going to depend on the demographics at any given time.”

“Ordinance No. 12-04-CCO, 13-66(a), 51-2012, City of Villa Rica Smoke-Free Air Ordinance of 2012” is a ten page document that is painstakingly, comprehensively complete in its details. It lists all prohibited locations with explanations of words, terms, and phrases; how it applies specifically to city buildings and facilities; and violations and penalties.

On page 9, “Violations and penalties:” For a person who smokes in an area where it is prohibited: First violation: $100 Second violation within one year: $200 Each additional violation within one year: $500 For a person who “owns, manages, oper-

from press release The Church Improvement Fund at the Community Foundation of West Georgia has issued grants totaling $52,578to four local churches.

Churches receiving the grants were: - Antioch Baptist Church for roof, septic tank and water heater; - First Baptist Church of Bowdon for gutters and bathroom remodeling; - Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church for new staircase, windows, handicap ramp, door, bathroom and soffit; - Westside Full Gospel Baptist Church for carpet replacement.

With an initial endowment of $300,000, the Church Improvement Fund provides grants for capital improvements to churches that primarily serve African American communities in Carroll County. Funding priorities are primarily for brick and mortar

projects that will improve the physical condition of churches and help them better serve their congregations and the community.

An estimated $50,000 is available for grants from the fund each year.

Applications for grants from the fund are accepted annually from churches that have been in existence at least 10 years.

Applications are evaluated on demonstrated need, including plans, cost estimates, community service, etc., as well as financial stability of the church.

A match of 25 percent is required, with the applicant church responsible for 25 percent of the project costs and the fund providing 75 percent. Priority is given to churches that have limited ability to raise funds above normal operating costs.

A committee appointed by the Board of Directors of the Community Foundation reviews funding requests.

CANDIDATE CASON HIGHTOWER

Hightower is interested in serving on the committees for Economic Development, Health & Human Services, Industry and Labor, Regulated Industries, and/or Small Business Development. “However,” she clarified, “I would be honored to serve on any committee.”

She would like the voters to know: “I’m so incredibly grateful to each person who has supported me during my campaign, and I’m humbly asking for your continued support in the August 11th Run-Off Election. Team Hightower’s success is made possible by our friends and supporters. Early voting begins July 20th.”

State Representative District 18 candidate Tyler Paul Smith Tyler Paul Smith: Tyler Paul Smith As of presstime, Smith had not returned the questionnaire, and has not been available for interviews. StarNews’ next print edition is scheduled for Sunday, August 9th (two days prior to the TAugust 11th runoff). It is hoped that Smith will respond before then so a full story on his qualifications and background can be published and available to voters in their decision making.

Community Foundation of West Georgia issues $52,578 in grants from Church Improvement Fund

from page 18

we build a workforce that attracts companies to our area. West Georgia has the ability to supply a skilled workforce that would meet current and future needs across the industry spectrum. We need programs that produce job-holders, not just degree-holders. I would support policies that promote necessary education, training, and retraining that will revive staple industries and attract new ones to our area.”

The quality of life in West Georgia is viewed by Hightower as an asset. “It is important, as we look to the future, that we provide the infrastructure and proper oversight to see that the quality of life we enjoy is not jeopardized,” she said.

Under the Gold Dome, Hightower vows to be a representative of the people in Carroll and Haralson Counties. She promises to listen, ask for feedback, and communicate with the residents of the 18th District. “I commit to being a true representative of my constituents and representing their wants and desires, while using my experience to navigate the political climate in Atlanta,” she affirmed.

ates, or otherwise controls a public place or place of employment may result in the suspension or revocation of any permit or license issued to the person for the premises on wihch the violation occurred.” An example of the permit that could be suspended or revoked would be a beer or wine license.

Also each day of a violation would count as a separate violation.

On page 8 Sec.16-80 is a”Non-retaliation; non-waiver of rights” that allows a $1,000 fine to a person or employer who retaliates against an employee, applicant, or customer who reports a violations or attempts to prosecute.

The lone exemption to this ordinance is listed on page 7, Sec. 16-77: “. . . smoking may be premitted in certain establishments including: (1) Restaurants where their outdoor service area is at least 50 percent of the size if their indoor area, may designate 20 percetn of the outdoor area as a smoking section.”

This city ordinance, of course, does not apply to areas within the city that are not under the jurisdiction of Villa Rica City, such as those belonging to Carroll or Douglas County Boards of Education.

The ordinance states that smoking is prohibited: - in all enclosed facilities, including buildings and vehicles owned, leased, or operated by the city along with all enclosed public places within the city, including but not limited to aquariums, galleries, libraries, and museums;

- areas available to and used by the general public in businesses and nonprofit entities patronized by the public-such as banks, laundromats, professional offices, and retail service establishment; bingo facilities; child and adult day care facilities; convention venues; educational facilities; elevators; gaming facilities; health care facilities; hotels and motels; lobbies, hallways, and common areas in apartment buildings, condominiums, trailer parks, retirement facilities, nursing homes, and other multiple unit residential facilities; polling places; public transportation vehicles; restaurants; retail stores; service lines; shopping malls; sports arenas including enclosed places in outdoor arenas; movie theaters, live stage theaters, lectures, musical recitals or other such performances.

- in all enclosed areas within places of employment-common work areas, auditoriums, classrooms, conference and meeting rooms, private offices, elevators, hallways, medical facilities, cafeterias, employee lounges, stairs, restrooms, vehicles, and all other enclosed facilities.

Private clubs within the City of Villa Rica are included in this smoking ban.

Smoking is also prohibited in some outdoor places - within 10 feet or a reasonable distance outside entrances, operable windows, and ventilation systems of enclosed areas where smoking is prohibited or within 10 feet of outdoor seating or serving areas of restaurants; all outdoor arenas, stadiums, and amphitheaters; all public transportation; all outdoor service lines.

chamber AD again

t

Page 32 July 12, 2020

StarNews

COMMENTARY

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The Last Responders: what will our “new normal” look like in the immediate future?

ELLEN & SCOTT

McBRAYER JONES-WYNN FUNERAL HOME I believe this pandemic has brought a heightened awareness of how important our relationships are during the grief process. It has shown us the value of being with family and friends and given us a deeper respect for others during these uncertain times.

This value and awareness of relationships includes our growing love and respect for people in this community who are working on the front lines to help others. This is a time of heroes, both seen and unseen.

Today, we celebrate the first responders, all law enforcement, nurses and doctors, pharmacists, along with all of the essential workers, such as truckers, delivery people, service station workers, and grocery store employees who keep our community going. We also honor our last responders, who often go unseen.

Last responders are our funeral directors and all our funeral service professionals who are there to comfort families that are facing a death during this time. Funeral service professionals are also quietly exhausting themselves to help families find a way through the darkest times of their lives.

The implementation of live-streaming services and placing care baskets at the front door of funeral homes are just two of the ways funeral professionals are working to meet the needs of families.

This pandemic makes death even harder, especially as we now are facing unprecedented circumstances resulting from this global pandemic. Whether it is comforting others when their friends and family can’t be with them, or helping loved ones to prepare to say goodbye, in times of tragedy (death or heartache), the last responders are here to help families say goodbye, grieve, and begin the grief journey of healing.

Many of the front line workers are helping and protecting, looking for vaccines and ways to protect others from the spread of this virus. The last responders are pioneers of seeking new ways that allow families to honor their loved ones’ lives and creatively finding ways that allow connection during a time when we are all socially distancing.

The hearts and spirits of the families we serve are the bravest of all.

To find a way through grief and plan a service for their loved ones is next to unbearable in these times. Most all of our loved ones are having to die alone because of safety restrictions that prohibit family and friends from being by their side.

From all of the Last Responders, we take a moment of love and respect to honor all families who have suffered a death during this pandemic.

We have walked with so many who are stronger than they know, and we would like to encourage them to keep going. When you feel as if you can’t emotionally go any further, stop and look back at how far you have already come.

Jones-Wynn Funeral Homes & Crematory www.facebook.com/MeadowbrookMemoryG ardens 459-3694, 770-942-2311, or 770459-6494 www.jones-wynn.com

I am Montenia Edwards and I am a candidate for Georgie Senate District 30

MONTENIA

EDWARDS CANDIDATE State Senate DISTRICT 30

I am Montenia Edwards and I am a candidate for Georgia Senate District 30. I am a clinical research professional with more than fifteen years of experience as a project manager within the biopharmaceutical industry. I have experience working on an array of diseases and currently working on the frontline of COVID-19 by conducting clinical trials seeking to add to the scientific knowledge of

this disease. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Morris Brown College and a Master of Public Health from Saint Louis University’s School of Public Health. I was one of a few selected for the Eliminating Health Disparities traineeship program, created by the US Surgeon General. As a result of this opportunity, I was able to learn more about the many diseases which impact communities disproportionately and ways to educate the public on preventive measures.

I am highly engaged with healthcare issues that the average Georgia family faces.

Currently, there are 22% of Georgians who lack insurance and have limited access to healthcare. Thus, I have been advocating for expanding Medicaid. In addition, I speak at seminars on healthcare prevention within

communities in Georgia and assist senior citizens with prescription coverage directly with pharmaceutical companies.

I am a member of multiple organizations where I volunteer at homeless shelters and food pantries throughout the district. I CARE and my focus is SERVICE to others as I want to improve the quality of living for residents in State Senate District 30 and the people of Georgia as a whole.

I am ‘in touch’ with the affairs of our community and am the right person for the job. I am passionate about taking a stand for Georgia families to include: - Fighting for the benefits Veterans deserve - Fighting for better access to healthcare - Creating policies to help small business owners stay in business

- Improving safety awareness in communities and schools I am a committed and proud mother of two beautiful children (one girl and one boy / ages 8 and 3 respectively). They are the biggest blessings of my life and keep me well-grounded. I am a avid church goer who loves to minister in song to uplift the hearts and spirits among the congregations throughout Georgia and the World.

I am in a Run-off Election and need your continued support. Early voting begins July 20th and Election day is August 11th.

State Senate District 30 consists of portions of the following cities: Douglasville, Carrollton, Villa Rica, Bremen, Temple, Hiram, Powder Springs, Bowdon, Mount Zion, and Roopville in Carroll, Douglas, and Paulding Counties.

Carroll EMC names 2020 Lineman School Scholarship recipients Carroll EMC Names 2020 Lineman School Scholarship Recipients Carrollton, GA-Carroll Electric Membership Cooperative has selected eight local individuals as the 2020 recipients of the Lineman School Scholarships. Carl Cooke, Wynston Denney, Zeb Hand, Jake Harrod, Brystol Phillips, Caden Raines, Benjamin Ranger and Nathan Urquhart were

awarded scholarships to attend a lineman school in Georgia.

The winners were required to submit an essay explaining why they want to be lineman, submit two letters of recommendation and complete an interview with the scholarship selection team. The scholarships cover tuition, textbooks and other related institutional fees and are available up to 24 months

Carroll County Cattlemen’s Association 2020 Scholarship winner: Cloey Gilham photo and information submitted by Paula Burke, Carroll County Extension Agent Senior Cloey Gilham was awarded the Carroll County Cattlemen’s Association $1,000 Scholarship at the Cattlemen’s June 18 meeting. Gilham is a senior at Temple High School and is very involved with her high school’s FFA chapter and the Ag department.

Cloey says her “background in agriculture has allowed me to gain knowledge in various fields involving agriculture and has taught me many life skills needed in the real world.”

Gilham lives on a farm where she raises goats, pigs, donkeys, chickens, bees, and horses. She also has background knowledge in horticulture as well.

Throughout her ag career in high school, she has been involved in many career development events, including livestock judging, poultry judging, wildlife

management, and employability skills.

Cloey said, “Being involved in my FFA chapter and Mr. Cherry’s Ag classes as well as attending Carroll County Young Farmers meetings has helped me Cloey Gilham make the decision to be an agricultural educator. Education is very important to me and I strive for excellence in academics and hope to help others achieve this as well.”

After she graduates high school, Cloey plans to attend West Georgia Tech and then transfer to Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC) to pursue a degree in agricultural education.

after award date. In addition to the scholarship, the award winners are paired with a lineman mentor from Carroll EMC. For Urquhart, his aspiration of becoming a lineman is one he has pursued diligently.

He will attend North Georgia Technical College (NGTC) in Clarkesville.

“Receiving this scholarship gives me the opportunity to pursue a lifelong dream,” said Urquhart. “I have always been interested in line work, and this scholarship will help take away the financial pressure attending lineman school presents.”

Linework is more than just a job. It is a

way life, and Harrod understands that being a safe and dedicated lineman yields admirable values. He will also attend NGTC. “This scholarship is a tremendous first step toward a career that will define my future,” explained Harrod. “A future that I feel will mold me into the man that I strive to be: hard working, productive and able to provide for a family.”

Phillips, Raines and Ranger plan to join the two, along with Cooke who has already begun courses, at NGTC. Denney and Hand will attend the Southeast Lineman Training Center in Trenton, GA.

Barnett Irrigation

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Chiropractors played key role in support of SB28

DR. RALPH

TEMPLETON Bremen Family Health and Wellness Center www.drtempleton.com

Spokesperson GA Chiropractic Assoc.

Senate Bill 28 to become law: The Fair Copay Bill sponsored by Senators Lester Jackson, Chuck Hufstetler, John Albers, Sheikh Rahman, and Ed Harbison will help all patients more easily access the appropriate healthcare by ensuring copays are reasonable and act as an incentive to care, not a barrier to it. This may not sound like much more than a helping hand for folks to lower

their insurance co-payment costs, but in reality it could save the Georgia healthcare consumer hundreds of millions of dollars a year and countless thousands of human lives.

The reason for the law is based on the fact that when people are suffering with back pain, they are presently incentivized by low insurance copayment for medical doctors whom are the prescribers for dangerous medications like opiates, NSAIDs, and spine surgery. Here are some of the facts: • 130 Americans die from opioid overdoses daily. (How many more don’t die but live miserable lives as a result of drug use?)

• High copays limit access to non-drug pain treatment from chiropractic and PTs, particularly, lower income Georgians.

• As copays went up, non-drug pain treatment (chiropractic, PTs, and OTs) decreased

Carroll County Department of Public Health

restaurant health inspections scores 6/17/2020: Mustard Seed Cafe, 2115 Maple St Carrollton

100 previous 100

6/09/2020: McDonald’s, 116 Carrollton-Villa Rica Hwy, Villa Rica 100 previous 96

and opioid usage went up.

Remove the barrier of high copays so Georgians can get the non-drug pain treatment that they need for pain instead of using opioids.

United HealthCare started a pilot program in Georgia to waive the copay and deductibles for non-drug pain treatment for the first three visits.

The research evidence is clear. The American College of Physicians recommends low back pain should first be treated with nonpharmacological options including spinal manipulative therapy.

The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine found patients with lower back pain who saw a chiropractor were 55% less likely to fill an opioid prescription.

StarNews

July 12, 2020 Page 33

The Spine Journal found case-equivalent patients who first saw a chiropractor for back injuries were only 1.5% likely to have surgery, while patients who first saw a surgeon were 42.7% likely to have surgery.

The Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services reported Oregon added Medicaid coverage for chiropractic, acupuncture, and physical therapy in 2016 to treat uncomplicated neck and back pain to fight the opioid crisis.

British Medical Journal 2019 Sep, New study found if patients are initially seen by a chiropractor or PT, there is an 87% decreased risk of early or long-term opioid use.

Dr. Ralph Templeton, Bremen Family Health and Wellness Center drrj2@gmail.com

To view complete restaurant inspection details, go to: dph.georgia.gov/environmental-health 6/30/2020: Papa John’s Pizza, 596 Hwy 61, Villa Rica

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6/10/2020: Kona Ice, 4598 Carrollton-Villa Rica Highway

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6/18/2020: Domino’s Pizza, 594 Hwy 61, Villa Rica

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6/10/2020: Taco Bell, 1690 S 27 Highway Carrollton

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6/24/2020: Popeye’s, 1517 S Hwy 27 Carrollton

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6/22/2020: Sno-Ball Express, 250 Hilltop Rd, Roopville

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6/09/2020: Billy Bob’s BBQ, 811 S Park St. Carrollton

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6/25/2020: Bowdon Coffee Roasters, 140C City Hall, Bowdon 100 previous 95

6/02/2020: La Vaquerita Mexican, 1124 N Park St., Carrollton 93

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6/04/2020: Cottage Landing, 150 Cottage Lane, Carrollton

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6/22/2020: Little Donkey, 1561 S Park St. Carrollton

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6/24/2020: Dairy Queen, 300 S Park Street, Carrollton

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6/09/2020: Lazy Donkey, 334 Bankhead, Hwy, Carrollton

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6/24/2020: Shuckers Oyster House, 481 Rome St, Carrollton 99 previous 96

6/26/2020: La Fiesta, 201 Bradley St, Carrollton

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6/24/2020: China/Sino Foods,1335 S Park St, Carrollton

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6/29/2020: Chopsticks Brothers, 120 Cunningham Dr. Carrollton 93

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6/08/2020: Papa John’s Pizza, 1214 Maple St, Carrollton

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6/01/2020: Jefferson’s, 342 Maple St. Carrollton

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6/10/2020: Blue Mountain Cafe, 4921 Cton-VR Hwy, Villa Rica

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6/03/2020: Fortune Star, 40 Villa Rosa Rd, Temple

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6/19/2020: South of Heaven BBQ, 401 Maple St., Carrollton

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6/09/2020: Wing Citi Cafe, 2502 Hwy 61,. Carrollton

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6/18/2020: Waffle House, 1201 Bankhead Hwy, Carrollton

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6/17/2020: Zaxby’s, 1125 S Park St, Carrollton

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6/04/2020: Butter’d Udder, 206 Davis Blvd, Bremen

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6/17/2020: Sam’s House, 108 Alabama St. Carrollton

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6/12/2020: Burger King, 700 Bankhead Hwy, Carrollton

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6/22/2020: Cracker Barrel, 106 Price Creek Rd, Bremen 92

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6/29/2020: La Finca Mexican, 727 Bankhead Hwy. Carrollton 92

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6/16/2020: McDonald’s, 2001 Alabama Ave., Bremen

6/02/2020: Smoothie King, 1670 US Hwy 27, Carrollton

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6/17/2020: Hacienda, 1004 Bankhead Hwy Carrollton

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6/01/2020: Firehouse Subs, 1202 S Park St., Carrollton

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6/23/2020: La Estacion, 1018 Main St. Whitesburg

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6/24/2020: All Chicken & Seafood, 816 S Park St; Carrollton 90

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6/15/2020: Moe’s Southwest Grill, 1765 S 27 Hwy, Carrollton

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6/09/2020: El Monteray Mexican, 815 S Park St. Carrollton

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6/23/2020: Lee’s Kitchen, 819 S Park St, Carrollton

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6/29/2020: Jones BBQ, 1081 W Hwy 78 Temple

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6/26/2020: Chick-Fil-A, 1156 Bankhead Hwy, Carrollton

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6/24/2020: Corner Cafe, 304 Adamson Sq. Carrollton

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6/03/2020: El Tapatio’s Mexican, 40 Villa Rosa Rd, Temple

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6/22/2020: La Salsa, 1004 Maple St, Carrollton

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6/08/2020: Los Cowboys, 113 Main St., VIlla Rica

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6/15/2020: Dunkin Donuts, 135 Commerce Dr., Villa Rica

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6/15/2020: Krystal, 130 Hwy 61 Connector, Villa Rica

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6/30/2020: Bojangles, 750 Hwy 61, Villa Rica

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6/29/2020: McDonald’s, 1303 Maple St., Carrollton

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6/17/2020: LocoMex Downtown, 412 Adamso Sq. Carrollton

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Page 34 July 12, 2020

StarNews

www.starnewsgaonline.com

Protect yourself against financial scammers

DERICK

NEWTON FINANCIAL ADVISOR

It’s unfortunate, but true: During this period of economic uncertainty, one of the busiest “industries” has been financial scamming. But, it goes on even during normal times, too, so you’ll want to know what to look for, and how to defend yourself.

For starters, just how widespread is finan-

cial fraud? Consider this: In 2019, more than 3.2 million fraud cases were reported to the Federal Trade Commission, with identity theft being the most common type of fraud, accounting for about one-fifth of the overall cases. And fraudulent new accounts (mortgages, student loans, car loans and credit cards) amounted to about $3.4 billion in 2018, according to a study by Javelin Strategy & Research.

To help yourself from being victimized, consider the following suggestions. They are certainly not an exhaustive list, but they should prove useful.

Carroll County marriage licenses Carroll County marriage licenses

-Watch out for unsecure websites. Make sure a website is secure before entering any payment or personal information. Look for sites that start with HTTPS, rather than those with just HTTP, which are not secure and can be hacked. But even a site with HTTPS can still be used by scammers, so, if you don’t recognize the name of the company or group that’s requesting your information, do some research to make sure it’s legitimate.

- Review your credit reports. As mentioned above, the fraudulent opening of new accounts is a big source of financial scams.

JUNE 1- 30, 2020 JUNE 1- 30, 2020

marriage reports chart

To be sure nobody has opened new accounts under your name, try to review your credit reports at least once a year. You can get them for free at AnnualCreditReport.com.

- Follow up on fraud. If you’ve already been victimized by having new accounts opened in your name, contact one of the three major credit reporting agencies (Experian, Equifax or TransUnion) and place a 90-day fraud alert on your credit file. You might also want to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, print it out and file it with your local law enforcement agency. And it’s also a good idea to contact the fraud department of the financial companies where the thief has opened a fraudulent account in your name.

- Be alert for suspicious links. “Phishers” have gotten quite good at sending out messages that look like they’re from reputable businesses. But if you examine these messages carefully, you can usually determine if there’s something off about them. For example, no legitimate business will tell you, via this type of message, that you have to “correct your account” by providing additional information. And if you do hit the link provided, and it takes you to a third-party site, you can be pretty sure it’s bogus.

- Resist “act now” offers. If you get an offer, via phone or online, urging you to “act immediately” on an investment opportunity, discontinue the communication. No reputable financial advisor will ever try to force you to take such swift action, and if an investment is legitimate, it will be available tomorrow, next week and next year.

- Use your shredder. You probably have the option to “go paperless” with all your banks and financial services providers, but, if you still do receive paper documents, be sure to shred them when they’re no longer needed.

Derick Newton is a financial advisor, Edward Jones, 937B, Maple Street, Carrollton, GA 770-832-9515

Carroll County pistol permits

Number of Firearm Permits applied for (carry permit) June 1-30, 2020: 464

Carroll County cattle receipts Carroll County Sale Barn 225 Sale Barn Road, Carrollton June 1, 2020: 521 June 8, 2020: 442 June 15, 2020: 498 June 21, 2020: 509

Carroll County jail population Total population as of July 6, 2020: 307 Males: 267 Females: 40 Carroll County births June 1-30, 2020: Tanner Medical Center, Carrollton: Girls: 50 Boys: 54 Tanner Medical Center, Villa Rica:� Girls: 25 Boys: 24

www.starnewsgaonline.com

StarNews

July 12, 2020 Page 35

Agricultural news -

Giant Asian Hornet not present in Georgia, in fact, not present east of the Mississippi River

submitted by Paula Burke Carroll County Extension Agent UGA A flurry of press coverage has created a surge of interest in the Asian giant hornet, Vespa mandarinia. The coverage is not traced to any recent event. The insect was found last September 2019 in Vancouver Island, Canada, and again in December 2019 in Washington state, USA. But, to date, this invasive insect is not present in the state of Georgia, nor indeed, east of the Mississippi.

The Asian giant hornet is a “true” hornet and the world’s largest, ranging in size from 1.5 to slightly over 2 inches long (3850mm). The stinger is nearly half-inch long and stings are extremely painful. Each year in Japan, 30-50 people die from being stung by these hornets. The venom is not the most lethal among bees and wasps, but due to the insect’s large size, the dose is larger than any other stinging insect Americans typically encounter. Human sting deaths are biased toward individuals who are prone to anaphylactic reactions or to individuals who receive large numbers of stings. One or a few stings from an Asian giant hornet should not be life-threatening to an average individual.

The Asian giant hornet is not necessarily aggressive towards humans, livestock or pets, but will sting if provoked. However, this giant killer can inflict a devastating blow to honey bee colonies, with several hornets capable of annihilating 30,000 bees within hours. There are three phases to an Asian giant hornet attacking a honey bee colony.

The first is the hunting phase where individual hornets will capture bees at the entrance of the colony, cut off their heads, and form a “meat ball” from the thorax. They then return to their nest to feed their young this protein-rich meal.

The second phase is the slaughter phase.

Hornets will mark a particular colony with a pheromone to recruit their sisters to the site.

Then numerous hornets will descend upon the colony, killing all of the workers by ripping their heads off, dumping their bodies onto the ground below, and returning to their nest with their prey.

Once the bee hive is dead, hornets enter the occupation phase. Hornets take over the hive, collect pupae and larvae, and return to their own nest to feed their carnivorous young. The hornets now guard the hive entrance as if it were their own nest. The aftermath of an attack will be piles of decapitated or ripped apart bees in front of a colony. The visible key to an Asian giant hornet attack is “decapitated” or “ripped apart” bees, and not just a pile of intact dead bees, which could be the result of pesticides, starvation or something else.

This is the hornet that incites the famous bee defensive response of “cooking” hornets to death. Asian honey bees grab an invading hornet, pile around it and raise their thoracic temperatures to the critical temperature that is lethal to wasps but tolerable to bees.

Unfortunately, American honey bees, of European not Asiatic descent, do not have this behavior.

The Asian giant hornet’s life cycle is typical of that for other social wasps and yellowjackets.

A solitary female emerges from winter hibernation and founds a subterranean nest, at first performing all nest duties including foraging and incubating the young. The col-

Shown above is a Giant Asian Hornet in the palm of a adult’s hand.

The sting from the hornet’s half-inch long stinger is described as “extremely painful”, and the dose of venom is larger than any other stinging insect Americans typically encounter. ony steadily grows until workers eventually take over all foraging duties. New queens and males emerge in late summer and mate.

Eventually, the males and workers die, leaving only the newly-mated queens who overwinter in isolation.

At this time there have been no confirmed cases of this hornet’s presence in Georgia or anywhere outside of Washington state. Other wasps and hornets already residents in our state that may be confused with the Asian giant hornet are: . Cicada killers, Sphecius speciosus, size range 0.6 - 2 inches long (15 - 50mm) . European hornets, Vespa crabro, size range 1-1.4 inches (25-35mm) . Southern yellowjackets, Vespula squamosa, size range 0.5inches (12mm) . Baldfaced hornets, Dolichovespula maculata, size range 0.75 inches (19mm) The Asian giant hornet and cicada killer may be similar in size but very different in coloration. The Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health have put together an “Asian Giant Hornet and its SE US Lookalikes” photographic fact sheet (link below) which is extremely helpful for distinguishing between the different species in our state.

At this time, we need to be vigilant but not over-reactive since, again, there is no evidence that the Asian giant hornet has journeyed East. However, sightings and/or disturbances to honey bee colonies should be reported. If you think you have seen an Asian giant hornet, found evidence of an attack (decapitated or ripped apart bees) or have a specimen, please contact Carroll County Extension Agent Paula Burke immediately at 770-836-8546. She will be able to collect your information and any specimens for identification. For photos and more indepth information about the Asian giant hornet, please check out the following: Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health Asian giant hornet and its SE US Lookalikes and Asian giant hornet fact sheet https://bugwoodcloud.org/resource/files/1 5380.pdf https://bugwoodcloud.org/resource/files/1 5382.jpg Georgia Department of Agriculture http://www.agr.georgia.gov/invasivepests.aspx Washington State Department of Agriculture website https://wastatedeptag.blogspot.com/2019/12/ pest-alert-asian-giant-hornet.html

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Page 36 July 12, 2020

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Congratulations 2020 Dr. Ralph Templeton of Bremen Family Health and Wellness Center joined the west Georgia community at his Bremen location in October 1987. He is a Georgia board certified doctor of chiropractic (DC) and a 1986 graduate of Life University. Additionally, he holds a bachelor's degree in nutrition science and is board qualified in Functional Neurology. He was awarded the much coveted “Georgia Chiropractor of the Year Award” in 1997 by the Georgia Chiropractic Association (GCA), and the 2016 “Clinical Excellence Award” by the International Chiropractic Knights of the Round Table (ICKRT) among many other professional awards and honors.

Since coming to Bremen Dr. Templeton has strived to put into the community a steady presence of natural healing by delivering the best chiropractic care possible for his patients. He is committed to the chiropractic principle that the body can heal itself when properly cared for with adequate rest, nutritional support and otherwise looks to the spine to correct structural misalignments that can produce interferences with the central nervous system which makes healing most difficult.

Dr Templeton’s offices in Bremen and Villa Rica are fully equipped with a conventional physiological therapy bay offering therapeutic exercise/activities which are focused on spinal strengthening along with electrical therapeutic modalities featuring pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy and high and low “Rife” frequency therapy. He has continuously produced monthly articles in the local media as well

in Chiropractic and Massage Therapy

DR RALPH TEMPLETON & RACHAEL TEMPLETON LMT as case studies in his professional trade journal and national ICKRT peer group.

His professional time is shared between the Bremen Family Health and Wellness Center located at 507 Alabama Avenue next to the Save a lot Food store in Bremen and Axiom Chiropractic Center in Villa Rica located at 941 S. Carroll Street suite C. In his personal time he enjoys spending time with his wife of 46 years Christine, their two daughters Rachael and Nichole (both work in the Bremen practice) their four granddaughters Lilly, Sophie, Jaylynn and Adrianna aged 4-10 years. His hobbies are fishing, golfing, and music.

You can email the Doctor at: Drrjt2@ gmail.com For you personal free consultation to see if he thinks he can help you or your loved one please call: 770-537-5555 Rachael Templeton has a Georgia license in massage therapy (LMT) and practices with her father Ralph Templeton DC in Bremen. She was trained in Michigan at one of America’s top

nationally accredited schools of massage-the Flint School of Therapeutic Massage and graduated August 2006. Immediately following her graduation she began her practice with her father Dr Ralph Templeton DC in Bremen, Ga. “She is one of the best therapists I have ever worked with” states Dr. Templeton. She works independently from her father's business and so patients can schedule to see her directly. Her techniques include Swedish massage, reflexology, sports massage, muscle energy technique,myofascial release, infant and pre-natal massage, aroma-therapy, I.N.I.T, lymphatic massage, trigger point therapy, Shiatsu, and deep tissue massage.

These approaches can play a vital role in reducing stress, improving circulation, pain relief, relieving insomnia, and overall serves to revive and renew the body mind and spirit. Massage can be vitally important to healing. The body gets sick with inadequate hydration and mal-nutrition. Smoking and eating processed carbohydrates can make the body toxic and congest the lymphatic system making it harder for the body to perform detoxification processes. Massage therapy with proper nutritional strategies can expedite these processes and allow the body to heal itself. Rachael is the mother of two children, loves to cook and grows her own garden. Rachael and her father are always looking forward to helping you find the right path to a happier, healthier life. You can schedule massage packages or just a single service by calling the Bremen location at 770-537-5555.

Dr Ralph Templeton and his staff at Bremen Family Health and Wellness Center participate in over 80 different health plans as well as Medicare. Bremen Family Health and Wellness Center 507 Alabama Avenue, Bremen (770-537-5555) and at Axiom Chiropractic, 941 S Carroll Rd Suite C, Villa Rica (770-459-8782) Visit drtempleton.com