June 2024

StarNews StarNews

Congressional District 3 Candidate Mike Dugan (R) engages straightforward, candidly with Carroll County voters at GOP Republican Party meeting

Opponent Brian Jack misses meeting, purchased rounds of apology pizza

Congressional District 3 Candidate Mike Dugan (Republican) spoke openly and candidly to the packed room at the June 1st Carroll County GOP meeting held at La Trattoria restuarant, downtown Carrollton. Dugan’s opponent is Brian Jack who arrived after the meeting ended, then treated all to some pizza.

One attendee who self-identified as transgender asked Dugan as to why he was “afraid” of transgender people? Dugan quickly responded, “I don’t fear you. My religion . . . I love you. . . I just don’t have to agree with you.” Another question was how to get Congress to focus on problems instead of “making noise”? Dugan said, “It’s easy to identify a problem, but it’s hard work to get stuff done.” Runoff is Tuesday, June 18th. Photo by Sue Horn

MAGA Black of Georgia visits Carroll County GOP

Gordon Rolle (right) of MAGA Black (Make Black Americans Republican) of Georgia spoke at the June 1st Carroll County GOP meeting. Rolle said MAGA Black is in five “battleground” states: Arizona, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Georgia. Rolle, a USAF veteran, stated MAGA Black does not endorse candidates, and that “our ideals are family, God, and free speech”. Rolle is shown with Carroll County GOP Chairman Rick Tillman.

Primary Runoff Election June 18th

Two races in Carroll County: Carroll County Commission District 5 / 3rd Congressional District - VOTE AT YOUR PRECINCT 7AM to 7PM(there will be no voting at county election office on day of runoff)

Sewage spill from nursing home finally under some control with a quick fix; cleaner solution requires working pipe connection to City of Carrollton

Georgia EPD closed the nursing home’s onsite wastewater plant on 2011 and directed it to connect to the City of Carrollton for sewage service

Environmental Company hired by nursing home says there is no connection; City of Carrollton says there is; in the hands of attorneys now

story by Sue Horn

Although StarNews does not have video to confirm, the longtime, large, sewage spill at the Carrollton Nursing and Rehabilition facility has been claimed to be rerouted and is now being run through a

mini-sewage treatment process and into the large sewage pond located behind the facility. The degree of cleanliness of the processed waste was not known at press time as the results weren’t back yet of a sample

Frustration mounts in Villa Rica as citizens

Recall applicatios picked up, signs ordered, signature gathering process being organized 100 signatures from residents in council member’s ward is first step in recall

story by

Sue Horn

In late May, official recall paperwork guidelines was requested from the Carroll County Board of Elections by a City of Villa Rica resident. On condition of anonymity, three residents each shared separately with StarNews their plans to begin the process to officially recall Villa Rica City Council Member Anna McCoy, Ward 4. One hundred signatures from Ward 4 are required for the application process to begin. The Application Process is listed as Step 1 in the 8-page document from the

Commissioner Reynolds does not hold back in his criticism of the county’s budgeting process under Chairman Michelle Morgan

story

by Janice

Daniel

Carroll County Commissioner District 5 Ernie Reynolds spoke out clearly and directly at the May 30, 2024, commission work session detailing what he saw as numerous and ongoing deficiencies in the county’s budgeting process.

Commissioner Reynolds remarked that this is the last county budget he will be involved with as he is not running for reelection. He said he viewed this as his “last chance” to bring forward and reiterate problems he sees with county’s budgeting

JULY 2

8pm // the amp

Carrollton wind ensemble

JULY 3

8pm // the amp

Carrollton jazz orchestra

JULY 4 10AM 8:15PM 9:35PM fireworks extravaganza

CARROLLTON PEOPLE’S PARADE

HOSTED BY THE Carrollton Evening Sertoma CLUB

Begins at Dairy Queen, heads north on US 27, right onto Alabama Street then continues on Newnan Street straight to Bankhead Hwy.

Carroll symphony orchestra sounds of liberty concert

FRONT LAWN OF CARROLLTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

CARROLLTON city SCHOOL complex

Now in its 26th year, Carroll County Drug Court is state model for success and accountability

story by Wayne J. Reynolds

Dustin Hightower was appointed as a Judge to the Superior Court, Coweta Circuit by then Governor Nathan Deal in May 2016. In 1998, Carroll County started the Carroll County Drug Court whose mission is to offer drug and alcohol addicted offenders an alternative to traditional criminal sentencing. Judge Hightower has presided over this special court since 2016,

“This special program is not a deal for those who are eligible,” Judge Hightower explained. “It is a program seeking a better way of utilizing taxpayer money dealing with addicts. It is for end users - not dealers. Dealers are not eligible. It is also not for first time offenders. Studies show these offenders may have learned their lesson for the first time being arrested. It is designed for those who have been arrested five, six times - the worst of the worst.

“There is an extensive interview process each person goes through. For example, they must plead guilty to their charged offense and are bound to the agreement. If they fail, they face a jail sentence of five years or more, so they have a great incentive to succeed. Harsh ramifications for the offender,” the judge said.

Court staff of Supervisor Karen Van Blarcom, Case Manager Torri Poole and Lab Tech Britney Rutledge along with Counselors Vivian Crim, Todd Pope, and Audrey Smith work hard to make this program work. People hear my name, but it is about their work that is really what makes it work. At any one time, we are working with 50 to 70 people in the program.”

The success stories - and ther are many of them - include watching parents regain custody of their children, birth healthy children, and bring families back together.

“You can’t put a price on it!” exclaimed the judge.

The court meets typically every two weeks.

Each participant must maintain full time employment, daily drug screening, classroom work, AA meetings, counseling both group and individual, report to drug court office daily, and stay in constant contact. The program typically takes 20 to 24 months to graduate with an 18 month minimum.

Each participant must maintain full time employment, daily drug screening, classroom work, AA meetings, counseling both group and individual, report to drug court office daily, and stay in constant contact.

This program succeeds through the work and cooperation among staff along with law enforcement, the District Attorney’s office, Public Defenders Office, and mental health and drug counsel professionals.

“We have received tremendous support and cooperation across the spectrum of professionals involved,” said Hightower. “The Drug

Judge Hightower also explained that in some cases a participant’s family and home environment can complicate their progress and success. He spoke of one instance where the person was not keeping a job, which is part of the criteria of participation. When they sat down with the participant, he explained that his father had taught that keeping a job was not necessary - that the government will provide for you. This was a challenge that had to be overcome. Each participant brings his own past, many had done drugs with their parents.

“We must build them up from the ground up,” Hightower said.

During this interview, Judge Hightower was interrupted several times to shake several drug court participant’s hands, speaking softly and personally with each.

court was the eighth one formed in the state when it began in 1998.

The Carroll County Drug Court is at no-cost to Carroll County taxpayers as it is funded by a state grant with the proposal written by Supervisor Karen Van Blarcom.

The Carroll County Drug Court is at no-cost to Carroll County taxpayers as it is funded by a state grant with the proposal written by Supervisor Karen Van Blarcom.

Now in its 26th year, The Carroll County Drug Court has become the state model. The

23:4

“This program is a great deal for the residents and taxpayers here in Carroll County. It saves them the tremendous expense of these people being incarcerated,” said Hightower.

There are several accountability courts in Carroll County: Mental Health, Veterans, and Parental Accountability, as well as the Drug Court. For more information: 770-830-9942

carrollcountydrugcourt@gmail.com

carrollcountyga.com

The Drug Court is located at 311 Newnan Street in Carrollton.

Bibles, Bible Imprinting, Bible Covers, Church Supplies, Books, Music, DVD's, T-shirts and Gifts for all occasions

Shepherd’s Corner

The election for the District 5 seat on the Carroll County Board of Commissioners is quickly approaching, and I firmly believe this election will have far-reaching implications on the future of Carroll County for many years to come. Having enjoyed the honor of serving previously as the District 5 Commissioner of Carroll County, it is my hope to once again be chosen to serve the people of our district. We’ve seen the effects of rapid growth in the wrong areas due to poor planning and decision-making in our neighboring Douglas and Coweta counties. What we allow into our county at this time will dictate the direction that Carroll County will travel for many years to come. Overseeing growth is an ever-present challenge for our area and failure to properly manage the expanding population will cause a strain on our

resources, costing our county considerable amounts of taxpayer dollars to pay for more law enforcement, emergency responders and build larger schools. I’ve spent decades developing relationships and coordinating with major developers and other stakeholders in Carroll County. This experience has allowed me to understand how to direct growth into the right avenues so that our county reaps the benefits while maintaining our rural status. My experience as a successful business owner, managing an organization that generates millions of dollars and numerous employees, will ensure that Carroll County will be set on the right path for long-term success. I’m a firm believer in dedication and commitment, having enjoyed 34 years of marriage to my beautiful wife, Sandy.

During my time as District 5 Commissioner, I worked hard to secure pay raises for our county employees to ensure that those with considerable skills, knowledge and expertise would remain in Carroll County for many years to come. I’m also proud to have bolstered our emergency response capacity in Roopville by adding six additional ambulances to their fleet. I made the health of our people a top priority, championing the establishment of much-needed laws regarding our septic system. In addition to these accomplishments, I’m proud to have helped support education

“ELECT” LEE POWERS

by renovating our library in Whitesburg and I was also effective in building our local tourism by securing important resources for historic McIntosh Reserve Park. At this time, it’s vital that we have a capable watchman over Carroll County to ensure that we allow the right things into our county and to prevent any potential danger and harm from being admitted into the area. I intend to work together with our other commissioners to retain our employees and first responders and see to it that their needs are met so that they can provide our people with exceptional emergency response capability.

District 5 has always been one of the more rural areas of Carroll County and I am dedicated to keeping it that way for many years to come while guiding our regional growth into avenues that will bring prosperity and security for everyone living in our county. I will also work to make sure that our senior citizens are protected and also guarantee that our children are able to safely grow and thrive by preserving the tax breaks on our school systems and securing necessary resources for Carroll County schools. My aim is to bring unity to our Board of Commissioners and to help our commissioners accomplish the right goals to best serve the people of Carroll County. I look forward to serving Carroll County and working toward a safe, prosperous and future while maintaining our unique rural character and quality of life.

Hightower

Steering Carroll County Towards a Bright Future

Kierston Phillips…. Newly Elected Chief Magistrate Judge Thank you!

Thank you to everyone for your help and support! So many people have helped me in so many ways, and I couldn’t have attempted this race without everyone’s help and support. I’m so thankful for all the people I’ve met along the way and everyone who welcomed me into their homes. As Chief Magistrate, I will bring our Carroll County values and an unrelenting commitment to public safety to the bench. I will uphold the law to maintain law and order in our community. While at the same time, I will continue my proven commitment to fairness by treating others the way I would want to be treated!

GA Department of Driver Services expects delayed license and ID Cards

The Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) is urging customers to plan ahead and pack their patience while waiting to receive their driver’s license and IDs.

“Due to circumstances beyond our control, there is a possibility that customers’ permanent driver’s licenses and/or ID Cards may be delayed in arriving,” announced DDS Commissioner Spencer R. Moore.

The delivery of permanent cards may take longer than the 2-4 weeks typical timeframe. Customers should be patient and continue to carry their last issued license or ID and any paper interim licenses or IDs as well as receipts with them.

DDS reminds customers to plan ahead and do not wait until their expiration date to renew. A Georgia license and/or ID Card can be renewed up to 150 days before expiration.

For updates, follow DDS on Social Media @GeorgiaDDS or visit the website www.dds.georgia.gov

Three Rivers Regional Commission and nonprofit RiverLife seeking volunteers to help with home modification projects

The Three Rivers Regional Commission (TRRC) Area Agency on Aging, in a collaborative effort with the Newnan-based nonprofit RiverLife are currently seeking volunteer groups, including corporate teams and individuals, to help complete “ready-for-assignment” projects.Ready for assignment status means those projects are funded, screened and approved. Construction management and materials are supplied by TRRC.

No construction skill sets are necessary for a group to adopt one of these ready for assignment projects. TRRC will provide management and onsite instruction. Participants of any age are welcomed to participate as long as minors have participation permission forms signed by their guardians.

Thirteen home modification projects in Carroll, Coweta, Lamar, Meriwether, Spalding and Upson counties have been funded and approved, and are now awaiting assignment and volunteers.

The Home Modification Program completed 11 projects in 2024. Most recently, the TRRC Aging Division recently completed a ramp installation project in Meriwether County for a single woman in her mid-70s.

RiverLife’s mission is to transform lives by equipping volunteers to grow deep in compassion and reach wide in service to others through community outreach. It partners with nonprofits and other organizations in our community to identify people in need of yard cleanup, exterior home repair and wheelchair ramp access. The RiverLife team coordinates and leads these opportunities for volunteers to create a meaningful experience for those serving and to safely and respectfully meet the needs of those served.

“This is an ideal project for a church group, school group or civic group to adopt. Most of the projects can be done in one 6 to 8 hour day,” said Emily Rogers.

To learn more about individual and group volunteer opportunities, contact TRRC Aging Division Assistant Director Emily Rogers at erogers@threeriversrc.com.

Three Rivers Regional Commission is a 10county regional planning commission that includes the West Central Georgia area counties of Butts, Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Lamar, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, Troup and Upson.

Whiten Pools

Carroll County board of education May work session: free breakfasts and lunches to all students now including summer program

story by Janice Daniel

On Tuesday, May 7th, 2024, Carroll County Board of Education held a Special Called Meeting for an executive (secret) session, after which they approved the personnel actions recommended by the superintendent.

On Monday, May 13th, 2024, Carroll County Board of Education held their regular monthly work session, where all board members were present.

. . . district had applied and been approved for a Community Eligibility Provision (CET) which will now provide two meals (breakfast and lunch) to all students free of charge including the summer program. This program will require no co-pay from parents, relieve teachers of collecting funds, accumulate no school debt and eliminate the stigma of the free meal students. She said the quality of the meals will be the same.

In the Student Achievements portion of the meeting, featured speaker was Brooke Mobley regarding Partners of Student Success (PASS) program, a non-profit or ganization dedicated to give at-risk students the help and encouragement they need to graduate high school. In the past two years, PASS has assisted nearly 300 students of various grades, and this year has 75 students graduating. Their Care Closets, which provides all kinds of items free to students who need them, have had 22,000 visits, and they have added 100 hours of tutoring for students who need extra help.

One of the graduating students who has been assisted by PASS told her story of getting into trouble with drugs and alcohol at an early age, a teen pregnancy and a situation that seemed hopeless for getting a high school diploma. But with help from the PASS program she is graduating this year, stating that she never could have achieved this milestone without the help from PASS. Her story so moved the board members to consider changing the District’s current Memoradum of Understanding (MOU) with PASS to add a seventh member to their staff (the district pays 50% of their salaries) for consideration at their regular meeting on the 16th. Board Member Sandra Morris was assigned to get together with Mobley to discuss details.

Under Organizational Excellence, Terry Jones reported that external walls and roofing is now taking place on the office building, transportation facility, and shop building at the Operations Center, and the modular nutrition unit has been delivered. He said the multi-purpose building at Bay Springs slab has been poured and the classroom and cafeteria additions have exterior walls up, and curb and gutter has been completed at the VRHS. Jones also asked that overnight field trips and fundraising events be put on Consent Agenda.

Sandra McCormick of the School Nutrition Program announced that the district had applied and been approved for a Community Eligibility Provision (CET) which will now provide two meals (breakfast and lunch) to all students free of charge including the summer program. This program will require no co-pay from parents, relieve teachers of collecting funds, accumulate no school debt and eliminate the stigma of the free meal students. She said the quality of the meals will be the same. For four years, the school will be reimbursed 87.11% at the Federal free rate and 12.89% at the Federal paid rate. Board Member Morris asked if it was a new program. McCormick said the Carroll County School District was not eligible until now, and if the percentages change, the District can apply for better rates.

Jones said that the District had previously applied for funds from the Capital Outlay Program to do roofing work needed at 8 buildings in the District, but one of those was fixed at Villa Rica when the new classroom addition was attached to the current building, and that closer examination had revealed that only three buildings really need the roof repairs at the present time, those being Bowdon Elementary, Glanton Hindsman Elementary and Villa Rica Elementary. Jones requested the board approve a Resolution to return the funds for the other five buildings to the Capital Outlay Fund for use at a future date, which was approved.

An Athletic Update was given by Jared Griffis, but the sound system did not pick up what he said.

Wolfe, who presented the Financial Update, also could not be heard on the sound system, but she did present slides from which the following information was taken:

General Fund YTD at 3/31/24

Revenues $134.9 Million 74% of Budget

Expenditures $116.3 M 62% of Budget

Capital Projects YTD 3/31/24

Revenues $15.6 M 66% of Budget

Expenditures $14.6 M 48% of Budget

CARES/ESSER YTD 3/31/24

Revenues $ 2.8M 25% of Budget

Expenditures $ 4.5M 41% of Budget

Other Special Revenues:

Revenues $19.5M 62% of Budget

Expenditures $22.0M 64% of Budget

General Fund Balance$48,320,493

Encumbrances$ 5,856,107

Unreserved $42,464,387

Update of Budget FY2023/2024

Anticipated Revenues $256.7M

Expenditures$275.8 M

Under ($6.7 Million)

Budget FY 2024/2025

Estimated Fund Balance 6/30/25$22.6 M

Remarks by Jared Griffis under Continuous Improvement could not be heard on sound system, but according to his slides there were two items: 1. Review of Reinhardt University MOA, where they place interns in the School District for clinical resident student teaching experience. 2. Review of Strategic Waiver System Application, which is a contract that allows local school systems to operate under the terms of a contract between the State BOE and the Local BOE. The system receives flexibility in the form of waivers of certain State laws, rules & guidelines in exchange for greater accountability for increased student performance.

Finance Director Wolfe presented Budget Amendment #2 based on final information on Actual Revenues and Expenditures, which was approved by the Board.

Wolfe also presented the FY2024/2025

Budget for tentative adoption as follows:

General Fund Revenues$197.0M

Expenditures$199.7M

Government Fund Revenues$253.4M

Expenditures$265.4 M

Prior to this work session, the board had an advanced planning meeting which was not videoed.

The Blue Group Furniture

Carroll County Board of Education expecting fall enrollment to be 16,000 students for their 23 schools

story by Janice Daniel

Carroll County Board of Education met for a regular (monthly) meeting Thursday, May 16, 2024, 6:30 p.m. at board office, Independence Drive, Carrollton. All members present.

Superintendent Scott Cowart asked that the Global Business Coalition for Education policy update be tabled until next month. Board approved.

In the School Resource Officer (SRO) update, Cowart reported that the budget began with adding four SROs, but said that Terry Jones is working with Carroll County’s Sheriff Langley to synchronize what his department is able to add, and said they might possibly go to some of the independent city police departments, such as Temple and Bowdon, to see if they can assist with filling these positions.

Chairman Bryant Turner said the BOE needs to make suggestions first. Board Member Sandra Morris said the focus needs to be on middle schools. Board Member Bernice Brooks said there are reports of consistent unacceptable behavior by 5th graders. Board Member Bart Cater said that SROs are very valuable, but not very helpful in serious situations at schools, even though these officers do have power to arrest. He added that the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office has zero budget for additional SROs as of right now. Morris asked “Do we need to talk to our commissioners? If the Sheriff can only provide two, which two will the BOE cover?”

After more discussion, a motion was made and seconded for the BOE to provide four SROs, two of them to be used part time at Temple Middle School, part time at Villa Rica Middle School, and one to be full time at Bowdon Middle School; the third for Sharps Creek Elementary and the fourth for Central Elementary. Passed by the board unanimously.

It was mentioned that good communication needs to be maintained with all SROs on when someone may be absent, etc, and that recruiting should be easier if the location is named and the SROs have the same working schedule as the teachers, with the understanding that the sheriff will give them their summer assignments.

Finance Director Delene Wolfe gave the first Budget Public Meeting information on the FY2024-2025 tentative budget approved by the board on 5/13/24. She said the numbers are based on projected revenues increasing at the state and local levels, and decreasing at the federal level.

67% of the General Fund Budget is for instructors, followed by descending percentages in Operations, Safety, Transportation and Administration.

A total of 84% is invested in personnel. This includes adding teachers and staff to cover enrollment growth, a $2,500 state funded salary increase for teachers and certified employees and 2% for other staff, and raises for retention. The insurance and retirement benefits costs are also set by the state, and there are additions for physical and cyber security and buses, and a one-time cost for the Operations Center.

The county expects to have an estimated 16,000 students in 23 schools along with the cost of CCAs, transportation, nutrition, BOE, etc.

The next Public Meeting was scheduled for June 17th and the final BOE vote to be June 20th.

Regarding the PASS MOU which was carried from the work session to the regular session, the board voted to add a 7th advocate. The MOU also provides for a 2% salary

increase for all advocates with a current salary of $37,293 and minimal insurance coverage at $400 per month. Board Member Lawana Knight abstained from the vote because her daughter is on the PASS Board of Directors. Remaining board members voted unanimously to approve the MOU. The entirety of the MOU is posted on the District’s website.

Board also voted 6-1 to renew Superintendent Scott Cowart’s contract for another year. Board Member Brooks opposed.

Board held an executive session, then came back to regular session and voted to approve the personnel actions recommended by the superintendent, and afterward the meeting was adjourned.

Journey Fellowship

City of Carrollton adopts FY3024-2025 Budget of $61,542,525: increase of 5.1% over current budget

story by Janice Daniel

Mayor and Council of the City of Carrollton met for regular (monthly) meeting Monday, June 3, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. All members present.

The July 4th Parade will be on July 4th this year.

Council voted to adopt the FY2024-2025 Budget of $61,542,525 for the three main funds, which represents an increase of 5.1% over FY-2023-2024. City Manager David Brooks remarkedthat there had been no budget increase in the two prior fiscal years, so this would equal to about 2.5% with those two years taken into consideration. Budget includes a cost-of-living increase of 3% for all employees.

Mayor Cason thanked Allen Gaston for advising the city about the GDOT Roadside Enhancement and Beautification Grant. Hayley Beaver wrote up an application for the grant and the city received $47,680, which they will be using at the Alabama Street/Hwy. 27 intersection and the City Cemetery.

Rezoning request was made by Tritt Quality Homes for property at Burns Road, tax parcel C05 0290439 from R-20 to R-10 in order for his company to build three small homes that will be priced around $250,000, a price range attainable by young professionals who might not yet be able to afford a larger, more expensive house. No one spoke against this request so council approved it unanimously.

Council also approved a Zoning Map and UDO Amendment 09-2024 to extend the Maple Street Overlay to also apply to the Birches and the storage units on Maple Street.

City Engineer Tommy Holland announced that the Bid Award for Lakeshore Pickleball Court Complex should be awarded to Ra-Lin & Associates, Inc. for a price of $2,355,616, as

they had the best score and lowest price. This complex will consist of nineteen (19) pickleball courts, a new pavilion, concrete plazas and walkways, sidewalk extensions along streets, asphalt parking lot expansion, court lighting, electrical and water services, and finishing fixtures. Item approved by council unanimously.

Brooks has asked that reserve monies from the General Fund and the Water/Sewer Fund in the amount of $2.5 million each, for a total of $5,000,000 be used to establish a Capital Improvement Fund for large projects and equipment, the purchase of which will still go before mayor and council just as it does now. Item approved by council unanimously.

Brooks notified council of some changes he wants to make to the Personnel Handbook:

1.There will be a 4th week of vacation added to any employee who has 15 years of employment with the city.

2.Any employee who quits without notice or is fired for violating any city policy will not receive payment for accrued vacation.

3.wait period for eligibility for holiday pay will be reduced from 90 days to 30 days.

4.Employees accrue sick leave upon six months employment with the city, but Brooks wants to be able to approve sick leave for employee with less than six months employment in certain situations.

Changes were approved to be made by the council unanimously.

Appointments were approved for the Carrollton Arts Commission as follows: Faye Byrd, Callie Steed and Melissa Stamps were appointed for a term to end 6/30/27.

Appointment was also approved for Rachel Carter to be appointed to the Carroll County Library Board for a term to end 6/30/27.

Meeting was then adjourned.

Storm

Roof Leaks & Chimney Repairs

Gutter Replacement & Repairs

Fascia and Soffit Replacement & Repairs

Metal & Flat Roof

Chimney Caps

The

story by Janice Daniel

Mayor and Council of the City of Carrollton met for a regular work session on Wednesday, May 23, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. to take care of three voting items. All members were present.

City Engineer Tommy Holland detailed the Brown Street and College Street Storm Sewer Improvement Project stating that it consists of extending storm sewer systems on Brown Street near its intersection with Cherry Street and on College Street near its intersection with Cedar Street up to the site where the new Carroll County Administrative Building will be constructed (423 College Street). Holland showed six completed bids that were received for the project, and Grizzard & Associates, Inc. received the highest score and also came in with the lowest bid at $1,206,000 ($1.2M), so the council awarded the bid to Grizzard & Associates with a vote of 4-0.

Lt. Brad Easterwood detailed Resolution 082024, stating that the resolution provides clear and safe regulations for golf carts in the City of Carrollton. He added that the resolution defines various types of motorized vehicles and provides for registration of motorized carts, personal transportation vehicles and low-speed vehicles. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the Greenbelt. Easterwood stated that they would like to start the registration program this summer. Resolution 08-2024 was approved by council 4-0.

City Manager David Brooks detailed the food truck court application at 444 Stripling Chapel Road, stating that the applicant would like to use a commercial suite at this location

for their base of operation for their food truck. This application was also approved 4-0.

Council Member Bob Uglum asked about the current food truck court process and procedure.

Brooks said food trucks are allowed by right with a food truck permit in the light and heavy industry zoning districts, and food truck courts can be applied for in the Office/Institutional, General Commercial and Neighborhood Commercial zoning districts.

In other business discussed, Holland advised that the Lakeshore Pickleball Court Project bid has been extended until May 30th 10:00 a.m..

Brooks stated that mayor and council in May of 2008 voted on Resolution 08-2008 to name the Water Treatment Plant Settling Pond as Raymond R. Hughes Reservoir. Holland said this settling pond is almost complete and that the raw water piping project which will supply water to the pond should start mid-June.

Mayor and council also discussed the Ballard Bridge Road Spur Reopening, Resolution 10-2024. Brooks advised that it has been requested that the gate installed in 2004 on Ballard Bridge Road near the Cole Road intersection be relocated further south down the road. He added that this road is used to access the city’s Wastewater Treatment Spray Site, and the gate needs to be relocated to 350 feet southeast of the existing gate.

A few other items were discussed which will be coming before council at the June regular meeting. Council voted to enter into executive (secret) session to discuss real estate and litigation, after which the regular work session was adjourned.

story by Janice Daniel

Mayor and Council of the City of Villa Rica met for a regular (monthly) meeting Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. All council members were present. (Editor’s note: this long meeting is covered in two stories with the second story covering Public Comments is on page 15.)

Sgt. Spencer Crawford led the Pledge of Allegiance and also offered the Invocation. Sgt. Crawford came to the VRPD January of 2013 where he has been a supervisor for six years and is now sargent over the D shift.

A special award was given by Kathy Nguyen, President of the Georgia Association of Water Professionals, a 5000-member association. This Gold Award to the North Wastewater Plant is the highest that can be given, and indicates zero violations for one full year. Utilities Director Bain, along with all the employees of the North Wastewater Plant who were at the meeting to accept this award, received a standing ovation from the audience as well as from mayor and council. Bain gave much of the credit to the mayor and council for their support the past two years in allowing him to receive the equipment and labor that was required to bring this plant up to the highest level of accomplishment, and to the outstanding employees in his department.

Rachel Linn, manager of the Villa Rica Public Library, presented Jennifer Holt, assistant manager, with her 10-year employment milestone certificate, and praised Holt for her kindness and respect to all who entered the library and her careful, conscientious stewardship of her job. “We are lucky to have her every day,” Linn said.

Tracy Jarvis, director of Community Development, presented Renee Kilgore with her certificate for five years employment with the city. “She is a great blessing to be around and a beautiful person, always there to lift you up, and the City of Villa Rica is blessed to have her,” said Jarvis.

Mayor leslie McPherson called for special ecognition of VRPD Officers Sgt. Spencer Crawford, Cpl. Chase Gordy, Ofc. Deborah Williams, Ofc. Jermarco Claiborne, Ofc. Tim Merrell and Ofc. Darrius Mitchel (D shift) to commend them for their work at an incident on April 21st involving a large Highway 61 illegal drag racing event that spilled out to several places in the county, where law enforcement had a hard time dispersing them. At some point, about 300 people in approximately 100 cars descended on the Villa Rica QT Station on Highway 61, a rowdy and threatening group.

When the QT called VRPD, Sgt. Crawford was in charge and led his small group of officers into a hostile and dangerous environment where, as Sgt. Crawford said, “one wrong move or word could have led to disaster.”

Some of the 300 were armed, with the officers separated from each other.

Showing calm authority and the benefit of their training, these six officers were able to contain the situation until help arrived from the Georgia State Patrol and the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office. Crawford remarked that, of the six, there was a combined total of 54 years experience, and four of them made up 52 of those years. Of the other three, two had less than 2 years combined experience, and one of those had been on the job less than six weeks.

OLD PATHWAYSLOGO

Old Pathway Baptist Church

message/graphic here to change each month

message/graphic here to change each month

podium and received a well-deserved round of applause and a standing ovation.

The financial report was given by Finance Director Jennifer Hallman, as follows: Fund Balance as of YTD March 31, 2024 was $52,450,479, a 51% increase over this time last year. Property taxes have been 96% collected.

The water/sewer fund is at a loss of $100,163, but still pending revenues from GEFA.

Sanitation and solid waste fund has a YTD income of $45,796, but water and sewer taps as well as building permits are on the rise with 138 residential building permits issued so far, 86 water taps, and 77 sewer taps, more than 125 over last year.

SPLOST is still coming in strong from both Carroll and Douglas counties.

Hallman opined that 2024 may be the year the Self-Funded Insurance could show a loss due to a number of high claims (she said this happens about one year out of seven), but the bank balance is still holding strong at $2,526,509.

Human Resources Interim Director reported that they have two candidates to present for openings in the staff. Council approved both after discussions in executive session: Deputy City Manager Diana DeSanto and Community Development Director Nina Shabazz Council then voted unanimously to take Item #6, the Watermist Phase 2B plat approval off the Consent Agenda, get into further study of the facts and be able to give correct answers in the June meeting.

Our young people should never be neglected or despised in our churches. Please join us on Sunday evening June 30, 2024 at 5 pm for "Youth Sunday" as we study together the exhortation of Paul to Young Timothy that would prevent the despise of those older than himself.

We are:

We are:

“Old Fashioned, On Purpose”

“Old Fashioned, On Purpose”

We invite YOU to join us!

We invite YOU to join us!

Sundays 11:00 am and 5:00 pm

Sundays 11:00 am and 5:00 pm

Old Pathways Baptist Church

Old Pathway Baptist Church

508 Old Airport Road, Carrollton, Georgia

Office: 678-664-1616

678-925-5314 www.oldpathwaybc.org

Cell: 678-925-5314 www.oldpathwaybc.org

story by Janice Daniel

Carroll County Board of Commissioners met for work session Thursday, May 30, 2024, 4:00 p.m., Vice Chair / District 4 Commissioner Steve Fuller presiding. District 6 Commissioner Danny Bailey attending online; District 1 Commissioner Montrell McClendon showed about halfway through the meeting; and Chair Michelle Morgan was absent.

Financial recap for the month ending 4/30/24 was given by Finance Director Alecia Searcy, as follows: Revenues YTD at April 30, 2024 $70,085,742 or 95.71% of budget. Expenditures same period $62,172,676 or 84.90% of budge.t

District 2 Commissioner Clint Chance asked if the courts were getting grants to cover some of their expenditures? Searcy replied that the superior court is still getting ARPA money, and the other courts are getting a small amount of ARPA money. Chance commented that the expected LOST and SPLOST money from the new Publix, which is in Carroll County, should bring significant increases in those funds.

District 5 Commissioner Ernie Reynolds pointed out that the General Fund (cash reserve) is $9,000,000 ($9M) more than last year, with two more months still to be added in the FY24 year.

General Fund is at $59,421,664 ($59.42M) for a $73,227,341 ($73.22M) budget or a whopping 81.14% of the budget.

Searcy responded that the final number will depend on how much money is moved to the Capital Projects Account. Currently, the county’s cash reserve has enough to cover 9 months and 21 days of county operations.

Consent Agenda was prepared as follows:

1.Tax Commissioner and Constitutional Officer Vickie Bearden reported that the City of Bremen has asked for an Intergovernmental Agreement for her department to collect Ad Valorem tax for Bremen. She said that is fine with her and Carroll County will now be collecting for all the cities in the county. District 3 Commissioner Tommy Lee asked if she would need more staff to do this. Bearden said no. The county will charge the normal 2.5% for the Bremen City Schools just as they do for all schools in the county. County Attorney Stacy Blackmon has reviewed all the documentation for the agreement.

2.Consideration of Section 5307/5311 was presented by County Attorney Stacy Blackmon for Public Transportation Service Agreement for operation of Three Rivers Regional Transit System between the Carroll County Board of Commissioners and Three Rivers Commission for the period beginning July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2025 for the annual local match of $70,000.

3.Captain Keith Price of the sheriff’s office asked for consideration of purchasing a replacement vehicle for a vehicle that was wrecked, utilizing insurance reimbursement fund not to exceed $34,657, with the balance coming from the sheriff’s budget.

Captain Price said the special equipment needed for the new car would be taken off the wrecked car.

4.Consideration for appointment of Blake Mobley to the Carroll County Board of Family and Children Services for the term expiring June 30, 2024.

5.Consideration of the reappointment of City of Carrollton Fire Chief Allen English for Position 2 of the Region 4 EMS Council for the term of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027.

6.Consideration of the reappointment of Major Shane Taylor to the Pathways Center Community Service Board to fill the expired term ending June 30, 2024.

County Attorney Avery Jackson advised the commission of a resolution to create a second State Court. He said the Resolution has been drafted to include all the amendments that have taken place since it was originally prepared, and now it needs to be sent to the Georgia Legislature for consideration in their next session.

Newton Jennings of Marsh & McLennan Agency, LLC, was at the meeting to present to the board consideration of the FY25 Property and Casualty Insurance Proposal being renewed, for the most part, with Liberty Mutual. He said that the Law Enforcement Liability will be written with Greenwich in order to save the County $165,000 from the quote give by Liberty. He also commended the county department heads for doing a much better job at containing claims, and said this is the best year the county has had. He said the automobile loss ratio is down to 80%, which is an improvement, but the goal for this ratio is 50%.

In response to questions by Commissioner Chance about the Hail & Wind Damage, Jennings replied that $250,000 is the minimum limit, and also that he will have to confirm with Liberty Mutual that their Umbrella Policy should extend to the portion of the coverage awarded to Greenwich. He will have that information at Tuesday night’s regular meeting. Also in response to Commissioner Chance, Jennings affirmed that improvements the county has made in the past year, such as updated software and other improvements were considered in the rates quoted by both Liberty and Greenwich.

He also assured the board that switching carriers “mid-stream” so to speak on a portion of the liability claims would be a seamless transition, including any on-going liabilities incurred prior to 7/1/24.

Searcy presented the FY2024-2025 Budget Resolution for 7/1/24 through 6/30/25 which has previously been submitted to the board, advertised in the county’s legal organ, and for which a Public Meeting will be held on June 6, 10:00 a.m. Budget will be published on the

county’s website, in the office of the Board of Commissioners, and transmitted to the Grand Jury of Carroll County.

As there were several new personnel positions added, as well as some transfers from part-time to full-time, Commissioner Chance

pointed out that most of these are related to the new State Court and the 5th Floor Build-Out of the Courthouse. He also said that the second State Court is already needed to handle current work and will not be simply waiting for overflow from the first State Court.

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work session: county has $57.4M in

story by Janice Daniel Carroll

County Board of Commissioners met for a (monthly) work session Thursday, May 2nd, 2024, 4:00 p.m. All commissioners were present.

Martyna Griffin, executive director, Keep Carroll Beautiful (KCB) gave the Board information about how the recycling program has saved the county around $205,000 in the past year, and that Jacqueline Dost, county’s Solid Waste director, has obtained a grant for $78,000 to be used in the recycling efforts of the county. Griffin gave a recap of the KCB special recycling events and broke down the traditional recycling numbers from the convenience centers scattered throughout the county. The largest savings came from metal recycing at $131,145, and cardboard recycling at $54,701 for at toal of $185,846. Recycling is also done at the special events held by KCB, collecting electronics, tires and household hazardous waste. At the convenience centers there are collection bins for aluminum, cardboard, metal and glass.

In response to District 4 Commissioner Steve Fuller’s question about small lithium batteries, Griffin said they will take those and other batteries at the household hazardous waste event, but that citizens can also turn such batteries in any time at Staples, Target, Home Depot and Lowes. She said that half of dumpster fires are started by these lithium batteries and they should definitely be recycled. Fuller also asked about old solar panels and Griffin promised to get him an answer soon.

the money invested, earning interest, and not being spent until the goods are received. He suggested these strategic purchases cost savings should be tracked and looked at annually.

Carroll County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Brad Robinson asked the commissioners to approve a Project Safe Neighborhoods grant of $15,000, awarded to the sheriff’s department. Chief Robinson said they plan to use this grant money to purchase more FLOCK Cameras to capture pictures of vehicles going into and coming out of neighborhoods where the crime rate is high. He strongly emphasized that people in every neighborhood should lock their vehicle doors to prevent theft, especially of guns that are then passed on to “who knows where” and cause great danger to others. He said the sheriff’s department is looking at some billboards to remind people to always lock their vehicles when parked. The board approved this request as Consent Agenda Item #1.

Chief Robinson said they plan to use this grant money to purchase more FLOCK Cameras to capture pictures of vehicles going into and coming out of neighborhoods. . . He said the sheriff’s department is looking at some billboards to remind people to always lock their vehicles when parked.

Dost said the grant received by the Solid Waste Department had been used to purchase new and better signage for the convenience centers, buy radio ads, and information about household hazardous waste. The grant also paid for 280 safety vests, trash grabbers, and signs that say “Volunteers Ahead” for further protection of people picking up trash on the roadsides. The balance of the money will be used to pay for promoting recycling by radio and social media. Griffin said they are also looking into the possibility of billboards.

Finance Director Alecia Searcy presented the Year-to-Date numbers as of March 31, 2024, which covers nine months of the county’s Fiscal Year. She said revenue is at $65,718,023, or 89.75% of budget, and expenditures are at $56,865,168, but number includes two land purchases made by county, and when those capital purchases are excluded, expenditures are $52,810,000, or 72% of budget. Money for the land purchases came from the ARPA relief fund and there will be budget amendments to move them to the correct account.

Searcy said Fund Balance is $57,470,436 compared to $50,308,381 for the same period last year. She reported that both SPLOST and LOST amounts are “doing well”, and spending from the construction fund has reduced that balance due to the new fire trucks, the Villa Rica fire station, and the new Admininstration Building on College Street. District 2 Commissioner Clint Chance remarked out that the county had saved “thousands of dollars” by strategic purchasing of various high-dollar items a year to 18 months ahead of time, therefore locking in at a lower cost, while keeping

Consent Item #2 was also for the sheriff’s department - a request for about $63,000 to equip the 10 Dodge Chargers they had purchased ahead of time when they learned that Dodge would no longer be manufacturing Chargers after 2023. He said the money to fit these cars would come from the School Zone Speeding Fines fund, which had the money available. In response to a question by Commissioner Fuller, Robinson said there was no new vehicle purchase in the request since the cars had been ordered in 2023 and were already parked on county property, but they need to be outfitted as police vehicles prior to 2024 or 2025 because the equipment might not be readily available then.

Consent Items #3 and #4 are detailed in a separate story (see page 30) which shows the county approving spending of almost $20 million on two large projects: the 5th floor buildout of the courthouse, and the new admin building on College Street. That story includes discussion about the county’s Enabling Legislation for cost-of-living increases to county employees.

Consent Item #5, presented by Ben Skipper, was a request to spend $111,650 by hiring Integrated Construction to repair the roofs of buildings at two of the county parks, McIntosh Reserve and Tanner’s Beach. Skipper said the Tanner’s Beach manager’s residence, concession stand and convenience center/restrooms and showers buildings all need new roofs. He did not name the specific buildings at McIntosh that will get new roofs, but he did advise the commission that at least three buildings at McIntosh will need a total re-build at some point, cost not included in this request.

District 5 Commissioner Ernie Reynolds suggested that they need to start a list of buildings to be rebuilt and expensive equipment that will need to be replaced so that money can be set aside in the budget for such items.

Commissioner Chance said the tally sheet needs to include how long each investment will last and when each will need to be replaced.

Skipper also said plans are in the works to replace the run-down putt-putt golf area at Tanner’s with playground equipment. He said research has shown that a state-of-the-arts puttputt area would cost in excess of $200,000. Meeting was adjourned.

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Sheriff’s department now fully staffed: two years ago, it was short 25 positions

story by Janice Daniel Carroll County Board of Commissioners met for a regular (monthl) meeting Tuesday, May 7, 2024, 6:00 p.m. All commissioners present.

Invocation was led by District 4 Commissioner Steve Fuller with an emphasis on Memorial Day and soldiers who are still MIA or POWs. Fuller also led The Pledge of Allegiance.

A proclamation was read by District 1 Commissioner Montrell McLendon to recognize the Carrollton High School Debate Team’s fourth consecutive year as State Debate Champions. There was also a proclamation of commendation to the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. for their 17 years of public service in Carroll, Douglas and Paulding counties.

Sheriff Langley also commended Chief Deputy Brad Robinson, and all the other officers doing such a tremendous job in his department. “I’m up here to say thank you, and what a huge difference it’s made” to have the Board’s support in this critical area of the County’s Public Safety Department.

The commissioners also thanked Sheriff Langley and his department for the great job they’re doing.

There were no Public Comments.

Sheriff Langley praised the board of commissioners for their dedication to the sheriff’s office and all county employees with their votes to offer pay increases, retention checks and other bonuses, and their general support and encouragement

Sheriff Terry Langley was at the meeting to speak about recruitment and retention of employees at the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Langley praised the board of commissioners for their dedication to the sheriff’s office and all county employees with their votes to offer pay increases, retention checks and other bonuses, and their general support and encouragement to every department in the county.

Langley said that two years ago the department was short 25 employees and there was a tremendous strain to keep the jail and patrol positions staffed. Today, thanks to the board’s support and Recruitment and Retention Officer Deputy Mike Claypool, the sheriff’s department is now fully staffed.

Community Development

Director Ben Skipper presented a zoning request, Z-24-04-01 for 43 Wilton Smith Road. Skipper said this is a dead-end road which is zoned commercial, which he thinks may have been a mistake long ago, but the owner is asking for it to be rezoned residential to build a house on parcel 123-0103, which the board approved 7-0.

The work session Consent Agenda of May 2nd, 2024, was approved 6-0, with District 3 Commissioner Tommy Lee recusing himself from the vote.

Public Works Director Danny Yates presented a request for abandonment of an unpaved portion of Old Four Notch Road, measuring .99 acres and lying in Land Lots 94 & 95, District 5 of Carroll County, which has ceased to be used by the public and serves no substantial purposes. No one spoke in the Public Hearing, and this request was approved by the board 7-0.

County Attorney Avery Jackson presented

consideration of updates and changes to the county’s enabling legislation for cost-of-living increases, which was enacted February 1989 and has not been updated since. Avery told the commission that the State of Georgia has adopted legislation over the years which conflicts with the county’s legislation, and therefore has created gray areas in interpretation and confusion for staff, who eventually had to go to outside auditors for help in these calculations. The auditor recommended updating the county’s legislation to recognize inflation and give clarification for future cost-of-living increases.

These two resolutions were approved by the board 7-0 to present to the Georgia Legislature for approval. Avery advised that these are a verbiage update of the CPI index only.

Finance Director Alecia Searcy presented a

request that the Natural Gas provider for the county be changed from True Natural Gas to Walton Gas who gave considerably lower rates for the next two years of 35.7 cents/therm for the first year and 39.6 cents/therm for the second year.

District 2 Commissioner Clint Chance asked if Searcy had any service concerns with Walton Gas and she replied that both of these retailers use Atlanta Gas Light and she anticipates no service issues. Walton Gas was approved by the Board 7-0.

Searcy also gave notice to the commissioners of the advertisement of the proposed FY2024-2025 Carroll County Budgets and the Public Hearing and Adoption Dates in the county’s legal organ. No action was needed on this item.

Meeting was then adjourned.

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Once again, public comments at Villa Rica council meeting filled with complaints and unrest

Top of compaint list is City Manager Tom Barber with requests to remove him from office, followed by complaints about Barber’s proposed Cleghorn/Anderson street development Citizens “want, need, and demand removal of Tom Barber immediately” and will “advocate for ourselves to the governor if necessary”

story by Janice Daniel

Mayor and Council of the City of Villa Rica met for a regular (monthly) meeting Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. All council members were present. (This long meeting is covered in two stories with the first story on page 11.) Public Comments portion of the meeting was, once again, filled with citizens who had complaints and negative comments.

Molly Elder, speaking for her mother, Jodella Chism of 127 Cleghorn Street, expressed concern about the easement markers on Cleghorn and Anderson Streets. She said several residents of this area had met with City Manager Tom Barber a few weeks ago about the easements, but were later shocked when they saw where the stakes had been placed on their properties. “I’m not against beautifying,” Elder said, “but not to the extent of taking yard space for sidewalks.” She said the homes in this area are generally small with very limited yard space already, and that sidewalks would bring no benefit to this community where there is very little foot traffic, and the money would be better spent on paving and lighting.

Connie Wood of 217 Brownie Road said council voted unanimously to dismiss City Manager Tom Barber, then they were told the mayor cannot dismiss him, and added, “talk to constituents for the true answer.”

Cindy Tolbert of 120 Doris Williams Industrial Drive said she was a Georgia History teacher, teaching about local government.

“We need to let people see how the city is trying to take land they [the residents] worked hard for.”

. . . “the citizens did not elect City Manager Tom Barber, they elected the mayor and council to do the will of the people”. .

“Article I [of the Georgia Constitution] states that all government originates with the people,” she stated, and council members are single voices for the people of Villa Rica as trustees in the Constitution, supposed to be making decisions for the overall good of the city. Regarding the neighborhoods of Cleghorn/ Anderson, she told council, “these are very old and established neighborhoods, parts of the city where people have dedicated their lives to their homes.” She suggested they should respect the old, welcome the new, and find the happy medium.

thinks the city doesn’t need to go to Cleghorn/ Anderson with massive ugly changes, and he is embarrassed by the things going on. “Elections have repercussions,” he remarked.

Luce Morales said she has applied for various voluntary city positions that were open and nobody has ever called her, some say they can’t find her application. She wants to volunteer and said she has a lot of knowledge that could be helpful to the city.

Rob Custer of 198 Daniel Road said he was told he would be contacted in March about the process of variances and how they’re advertised, and he still has not received that call. He also added that the speeding on Daniel Road is a severe safety hazard and he’s tried for seven year to get help from council and VRPD, to no avail. He said there is drag racing on Edge and Berry Road and officers on Daniel Road don’t do anything about people running through stop signs, and that he had been told by someone at the VRPD that “no one’s going to follow the speed limit.” He stated that he had read the Mayor’s Facebook post about street safety and nothing she said has happened yet.

“You’re going to end up in trouble,” he asserted. He thinks council should stop trying to prevent gravel in places where there is already too much concrete and asphalt due to the fact that gravel allows water to flow through down to the ground.

Public Comments concluded and Mayor McPherson said, “I’m a big believer in speed humps,” which got a round of applause.

Mayor also reminded everyone of the Green Market every Monday night from 4:00-7:00 p.m. where, besides lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, there are food trucks and lots of other things to do.

Council Member Stephanie Warmoth reminded everyone that, although she originally voted to keep Tom Barber, after doing a lot of studies on her own, she came back the next month and made a move to terminate him, which did not pass in council. “There’s not much more that I can do on my own,” she concluded.

Pamela White of 102 Anderson Road said the residents of Cleghorn and Anderson Streets did not get a proper response from city officials on their concerns. She said these citizens will fight the infringement on their land, and pointed out the lack of concern on the part of the council since they were not even listed as a matter of concern on the agenda. “We need to let people see how the city is trying to take land they [the residents] worked hard for.”

Marshall Smith of 9636 Coastal Pointe Road said he understands what the residents of Cleghorn/Anderson are going through. He said that in 2021 City Manager Tom Barber was a guest at his HOA’s meeting and when members expressed concerns, Barber said “quote I don’t care what they do with the land. All I want is units, more units.” Smith said that is not what the citizens want, that zoning ordinances are not being followed, and there’s absolutely no concern over the “bullying and pompous way Mr. Barber handles his office.” He also emphasized that all council members need to support the mayor.

Ken Willis of 3012 Catamaran Cove spoke about Item #6 on the Consent Agenda. Willis is vice president, Mirror Lake Community Association and expressed his concerns about the “approved plat”. He said there are numerous places of “open area” on the plat which, once the developers are finished, become “common areas” of the subdivision and therefore the people of the subdivision are responsible for their upkeep. Willis informed mayor and council that at Hillside Top Soil Drive and Deacon Way in Watermist Phase II, there is a hill 50 to 70 feet high with a 65 to 70% slope, an uncovered open area which he feels the HOA should not be responsible for due to erosion problems. He also said this is not an isolated concern, that there are essentially a lot of areas of dirt that will be washing to the roadway. He pointed out that there are no sidewalks on the final plat, and that even though preliminary plats say they have to be approved before building can begin, there are already two structures being built in that area, causing real concern about Watermist Phase 2A being on the Consent Agenda.

Alita Farmer, speaking for her father at 216 Anderson Road, had concerns about how the easements have been handled. She said there was no notification about the staking of the properties, that residents were alarmed when people just started showing up in their yards, and the city is taking advantage of the residents there. She assured council that she will pursue the HUD, that the easements are not legal, and “we will advocate for ourselves to the governor if necessary.”

O’Nathan Hare of 636 Nine Oak Circle had two complaints. He said Liberty Community Twin Oaks Subdivision retention pond area was not being maintained, and also the South Carroll Road turn onto Highway 61 had been needing repair for several years, that the city just dumps gravel or dirt there and leaves it to be washed away with the next rain. “It needs to be done properly,” he concluded.

Kay Smith, 9636 Coastal Pointe Drive, said she lives in largest subdivision in Douglas and Carroll counties, and their representatives don’t listen to their constituents. She asked why City Manager Tom Barber doesn’t have a list of what needs to be followed up on, and why the city is paying consultants which the council votes on instead of making the city manager get free training on how to to do his job.

Chris Ertley of 213 Maple Street said the current mayor let the city’s grant writer go over the matter of money, said the city couldn’t afford it. He said the citizens did not elect City Manager Tom Barber, they elected the mayor and council to do the will of the people. Later, Ertley came back to the mic and clarified that the mayor did not terminate the grant writer, but didn’t do anything to keep him. “When we have talent we should not let it go over a matter of a raise.” He said that the grant writer brought millions of dollars of grant money into the city.

Polly Oliver of 2511 Shoreline Parkway and president of that HOA representing 1388 homeowners, was there to also talk about the massive hills created by the developer at Watermist, and how expensive they would be to mow. “I was surprised to hear it was on the Consent Agenda.”

Erick Tisher of Bridgewater Pointe said he was not a native Villa Rican, but purposely chose Villa Rica for his city, and lately he is not feeling very proud of the city or council, and is tired of the issues with the city manager. He

Jackie Childress of 1050 W. Highway 78 said she’s been coming to council meetings for seven months, and council does not support the mayor in refusing to remove Tom Barber. She stated, “if you won’t do your job, get out,” and added that the citizens want, need, and demand removal of Tom Barber immediately.

Joshua Evans of 640 Clearview Street talked about the plan to stop water from entering UnCorked and Los Cowboys. He said the plan will not work, the water will simply be pushed behind the buildings to the creek, which is soon going to wash land and houses away.

Council Member Anna McCoy said the city would need a succession plan in place in order to terminate the city manager, and she made a promise that after her daughter graduates, she will go door-to-door in her Ward and see what everybody actually wants. As to Watermist, she said she understood that what was presented to the council during the work session actually was the final plat approval.

Council Member Shirley Marchman said she has been on the city council for over 20 years, and though she may not say a lot during the meetings, she has consistently worked for her constituents, and never tried to get anybody to do something she considered wrong.

A StarNews Special Series Honoring the Legacy and

The Carroll County Livestock Sales Barn: come out and bring the kids to see your agricultural heritage in action

story by Wayne J. Reynolds

Carroll County’s acreage is about one-third rural, and is home to 806 farms. The average farm is 114 acres, with beef, cattle, and poultry as the largest commodities.

“We are very proud of our rural heritage. In fact, Carroll County has more farms than any other county in Georgia,” said Sam Duke, board treasurer and shareholder of Carroll County Livestock Sales Barn. “Carroll County has 367 cattle farms. We don’t have as large of tracts like they do in south Georgia, but it gives more people an opportunity to be a farmer.

“We have seen an influx of young people jumping on board, which is a beautiful thing considering that land is so expensive. We see teens showing more interest in farming, in part through programs that Paula Burke and her staff offer at the UGA Extension-Carroll County office. They are getting young people involved and that is vital in the continued growth in farming and the sales barn.”

The Carroll County Livestock Sales Barn was founded in 1942 and was originally housed in downtown Carrollton near Southwire. CocaCola initially was the largest shareholder and helped fund it. It moved to its current location in the early 1970s at 225 Salesbarn Road just off Highway 61 in Carrollton. The Carroll County Livestock Sales Barn is shareholder owned: 509 shareholders.

“These shareholders - now more than ever - are trying to give back to the

community,” Duke said, “The only way the sales barn can survive is getting the youth involved.”

The sales barn pulls cattle farmers not only from Carroll County but from all over the region including Blue Ridge, middle Georgia, and even Tennessee.

“They may be farmers who come here who have just five head up to farmers who make their living selling cattle.”

The sales barn auctions some goats and sheep as well.

“Feeder calves weighing 600 hundred pounds, 700 or more are sold to states such as Kansas and Oklahoma to feed lots,” said Eric Thompson, livestock manager. “Smaller calves purchased are sent to grass - to graze and grow.”

“The concern is people selling off their herd and then selling off sections of their land,” said Lauren Holland, sales barn office manager. “So, they don’t get back in. That is a concern nationally as well.”

“And it is not only young people, but also older people selling off because prices have never been this high. Just since last June, we have had over 4000 momma cows to kill off that will never be again, “Thompson adds.

“A lot of people locally depend on the Carroll County sales barn to sell all their cattle and for their livelihood,” Duke continues.

“Many of our farmers don’t have a succession plan if they don’t have family taking over the farm. And with prices so high, they just sell off and leave the business,” Duke says. “They are now getting triple what they were getting. These people have seen calves at $250, and some higher. That is why it is important to find ways to involve the youth more - for the future.”

“The Sales Barn is more involved than ever before in sponsoring programs and donations at the Extension Office and the 4H. We have school groups come tour.

Global Forest Watch reports on tree canopy coverage in United

States: Carroll County ranked midrange at #1560 out of 3132 total counties

Carroll County in midrange of tree canopy loss or gain; Haralson County ranks high in tree loss at #916

from press release

Which U.S. counties have lost the most tree canopy coverage? The company LawnStarter ranked counties “Going Bald: Tree Cover Loss Over 20 Years”. Using data from Global Forest Watch, a comparision was made on 3,132 counties in the United States based on the net percentage and net change in tree cover (in kilo hectares) between the years 2000 and 2020.

A county may have tree loss from cutting for development or profit from timber, but also tree gain from greenspace creation or planting trees for profit.

In the West Georgia-East Alabama area, Carroll County ranked midrange for loss/gain at #1560. Two neighboring Alabama counties ranked high in tree canopy loss:

Randolph County, AL #362

Clebruner County, AL #518

Douglas County, GA #792

Haralson County, GA #916 Heard County, GA #1306 Carroll County, GA #1560

Counties in the U.S. with the most tree cover loss:

#1Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK

#2Fairbanks North Star Borough, AK

#3Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, AK

#4Idaho County, ID

#5Okanogan County, WA

#6Valley County, ID

#7Flathead County, MT

#8Douglas County, OR

#9Shasta County, CA

#10Aroostook County, ME

Counties in the U.S. with the most tree cover gain:

#1Lea County, NM

#2Yoakum County, TX

#3Valdez-Cordova Borough, AK

#4Lake and Peninsula Borough, AK

#5Gaines County, TX

#6Hale County, TX

#7Northwest Arctic Borough, AK

#8Matanuska-Susitna Borough, AK

#9Skagway-Yakutat-Angoon Borough, AK

#10Imperial County, CA

700 counties in the ranking have lost one kilo hectare - 2,471 acres - of tree cover or more between the years 2000 and 2020. However, over half of the counties in theranking - 1,794 of them - experienced a net gain in tree cover between 2000 and 2020.

Alaskan territories bookmarked both the top and bottom of the ranking, with some of the largest tree canopy losses and gains. Five regions finished with high rates of canopy degradation, including YukonKoyukuk Census Area (No. 1).

Millions of acres of Alaskan wildlands have been impacted by wildfires, and since 2016, 2 million forested acres have been devastated by spruce beetle infestations.

Arid counties with less tree cover to begin with have some of the most dramatic net percentage increases and decreases in tree cover. Several Texas counties sprouted along the bottom of our ranking near Lea County, New Mexico, in last place. These regions don’t naturally have heavily forested environments but have had comparatively large canopy gains.

Highlighting

The chamber of commerce has been by,” community involved - and to know what

The office is open on Mondays only, but of the farmers. (every Monday except for New Year’s Day). The Sales Barn is open Typically, the animals come in on Sundays.

“The office is open Mondays, but the cattle On Mondays, there is a staff of 25. “We provided with fresh water, hay, even fans.

The auction starts on Mondays at noon. enter one at a time stepping on a scale for action moves to replacement cows destined next are slaughter cows to be sold for beef. through and sold - headed out west to be Brady Ward has been the auctioneer for auctions and have a passion for it. I don’t job is to get the best price for the farmers. fall, going from 300 head to 660 - up to 800 To protect the seller, if Ward sees the animal price, he will switch it to “by the pound” to go lower, that it will be auctioned by the the selling farmer. The staff at the sales barn

The Sales Barn hosts full time buyers who have a list of what their clients want. The varies from week to week. Variables can time, and any drought status if applicable.

În fiscal 2023, The Carroll County Livstock 35,000 head, the highest it has ever been. year. “The high prices and sell-offs contributed “This year-to-date we are running about 600 continue because of the other factors. Also, comes from Carroll County.” “Also, recently, commission to help the farmers,” Holland Currently, there are 15 or 16 sales barns

New legislation supporting

Governor’s office press release

In an April 30, 2024 ceremony in Brian Kemp signed a package of legislation supporting Georgia’s ever-growing agricultural improving security against foreign adversaries.

Among other things, included in legislation that tackles ownership of agricultural near military installations by certain individuals agent of a foreign adversary, alleviates farmers and ranchers, protects children from dangerous marketing, and increases the theft.

“As valued members of our state’s number Georgia’s farming families deserve our they face unprecedented challenges, including

Carroll County Farm Bureau

Hagen

In May before schools let out, Carroll County Farm Bureau awarded two recipients, Kaleb Chambers and Kamie Turner, with their Paul Cooper Scholarship of $7,000 each. Kami is studying to be an Ag Teacher. Kaleb is pursuing a future in Agri-business. We are so thankful to see our youth investing in the Agriculture sector, giving back and continuing to educate others as to where their food and fiber comes from.

Agriculture is Georgia’s largest industry contributing approximately $69.4 billion annually. In addition, Agriculture provides one in seven jobs in our state.

Please consider supporting the Carroll County Farm Bureau with a membership of $35/year, so we can continue to support our local and state farmers as well as educate our children about where their food and fiber comes from. Your support helps us give scholarships to our students going into an Ag-related field. Call us today to get your membership!

For more information, give Jennifer Dixson a call at our local office at 770-832-9089.

Carroll County Farm Bureau

324 Columbia Drive, Carrollton, GA 30117 770-832-9089

Realty Pride Meat Processing

Providing Information and Education to Create Connections”

Highlighting the Enduring Impact of Our Farming Communities

Holland explains. “We want the we do.” but phone calls are forwarded to take care July 4th, Thanksgiving, Christmas and open to farmers when they are needed. Sundays. If needed, hauling can be arranged. cattle business is 24/7,” Duke said. “We understand things happen. Cattle are fans. For cattle, it is almost spa-like.” noon. They start with sheep and goats that for real time weight. Next, the auction destined for farms. Entering the auction ring beef. Then, the feeder calves are run fed and fattened up. for past nine years. “I grew up around sell cars or real estate, I sell cows. My farmers. Typically, the spring is slower than the 800 to 1200 in the fall.” animal is not going to sell for the correct telling the buyers they will not be going the pound instead. This is done to protect barn advocate for the farmers. who represent multiple clients. They will number of cattle to be auctioned off include the season, weather, hay cutting applicable. Livstock Sales Barn sold approximately Typically, they sell in the high 20s for a contributed to that,” Thompson commented. 600 ahead, but we don’t expect that to Also, about 25% of the cattle sold here recently, the board also lowered the Holland pointed out. barns across the state but that number is

expected to drop over the next decade. Ranking for Carroll County:

Georgia Farm Gate Value Report 2022 reports:

Beef Cows – 21,500 head, $8,030,250, ranked 15th in state

Beef Stockers – 7591 head, $2,277,300, ranked 9th in state

Goats – 2,200 head, $467,500, ranked 8th in state

Sheep – 1,100 head, $206,250, ranked 7th in state

In conclusion, Sam Duke says the Carroll County Livestock Sales Barn is an advocate for the local farmer and a “one stop shop” for cattle farmers.

For more information, call 770-834-6608.

Sales Barn is open to the public on Mondays.

AUCTIONEER: It is the job of the auctioneer to get the most money possible for an animal or group of animals. Buyers look at the animal’s age, size, quality and health. Auctioneer often starts with a high asking price, then drops it until he or she gets the first bid. One or more people serve as ringmen. Their job is to watch for bids from the crowd and make sure the auctioneer sees them.

Auction chant (“bid calling,” “auction cry,” “cattle rattle”) is a rhythmic repetition of numbers and “filler words” spoken by American auctioneers in the process of conducting an auction.

The chant consists of at least the current price and the asking price to outbid. In between the numbers are “filler words” which are what the auctioneer says to tie the chant together making it smooth and rhythmic. Filler words serve as a thinking point for both the auctioneer and the bidders. Filler words can serve to make a statement, ask questions, or can simply serve as a means of adding rhythm to the chant (which all filler words should do regardless).

Typical filler words are “dollar bid,” “now,” and “will ya’ give me?”

The typically taught chant for beginning auctioneers using the following pattern: “One dollar bid, now two, now two, will ya’ give me two? Two dollar bid, now three, now three, will ya’ give me three?”, and continues in this fashion until the crowd stops bidding and the item is sold to the highest bidder.

There are many tongue twisters that auctioneers practice to become an auctioneer. Most tongue twisters involve alliteration. One of the hardest, which auctioneers learn in auctioneer school, is called, “Betty Botter.” This tongue twister was written by Carolyn Wells. - Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

Cattle Market Math

are sold at auction by the hundredweight (cwt) which is 100 pounds

A 600-pound animal that sells for $150 per cwt would cost $900: $150 ÷ 100 = $1.50 per pound

600 pound calf= 600 X

supporting Georgia Agriculture including HB 827 sponsored by local State Rep. Tyler Paul Smith

release Valdosta, Governor legislation focused on agricultural industry and adversaries. in this package is agricultural land or land individuals acting as an high input costs for from misleading and penalty for livestock

number one industry, enduring support as including having to

navigate disastrous federal energy policies, attempts by foreign adversaries to acquire farmland, and theft of property,” Governor Kemp said.

“We are tackling these challenges head on, and I want to thank our legislative partners for their work on these important issues.”

Kemp signed nine pieces of legislation included those laws listed below:

• HB 827, sponsored by State Represenative Tyler Paul Smith, increases the penalty for livestock theft and awards Title 16 law enforcement authority to the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA)

• SB 420, sponsored by Sen. Jason Anavitarte, prohibits the ownership or acquisition of agricultural land or non-residential land within a 25mile radius of a military location by a nonresident alien acting as an agent of a government designated as a foreign

Carroll County Cattlemen’s Association

adversary, entity domiciled/majorly owned in certain countries, or governments of countries designated as a foreign adversary by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce.

• SB 340, sponsored by Sen. Kay Kirkpatrick adds diesel exhaust fluid (for agricultural uses only) to the Georgia Agricultural Tax Exemption (GATE)alleviating high input costs for our farmers and ranchers.

• HB 827, sponsored by State Represenative Tyler Paul Smith, increases the penalty for livestock theft and awards Title 16 law enforcement authority to the

Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) and includes language from HB 1164 relating to criminal trespass involving a wild animal that is contained in a cage, enclosure, etc.

• SB 494, sponsored by Sen. Sam Watson, makes changes to the framework for hemp regulation in Georgia to allow the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) to have greater oversight and enforcement power and adds labeling, packaging, and marketing requirements to protect children from misleading and dangerous marketing.

• SB 436, sponsored by Watson, expands the definition of farm-use vehicles as it relates to road right-of-way to include any lawful operators of tractors or husbandry implement used primarily for agriculture.

Our fully-stocked Parts Department meets all the needs of Farm and Construction Equipment

Our Service Department has fully-trained staff to work on all equipment - from hand held power tools to combines - and everything in between!

Carroll County Livestock Sales Barn Auctioneer Brady Ward

Foreign investors are required to report U.S. agricultural land holdings to USDA

from press release

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) State Executive Director in Georgia, Arthur Tripp, Jr., reminds foreign investors with an interest in agricultural lands in the United States that they are required to report their land holdings and transactions to USDA.

The Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA) requires foreign investors who buy, sell or hold an interest in U.S. agricultural land to report their holdings and transactions to the USDA. Foreign investors must file AFIDA Report Form FSA-153 with the FSA county office in county where the land is located.

According to the CFR Title 7 Part 781, any foreign person who holds an interest in U.S. agricultural land is required to report their holdings no later than 90 days after the date of the transaction.

“Failure to file a report or filing a late or

inaccurate report can result in a penalty with fines up to 25 percent of the fair market value of the agricultural land,” said Tripp.

Foreign investors should report holdings of agricultural land totaling 10 acres or more used for farming, ranching or timber production, including leaseholds of 10 years. AFIDA reports are also required when there are changes in land use, such us agricultural to nonagricultural use. Foreign investors must also file a report when there is a change in the status of ownership.

The information from the AFIDA reports is used to prepare an annual report to the President and Congress on the effect of foreign land holdings on family farms and rural communities in the United States.

Assistance in completing the FSA-153 report may be obtained from the local county FSA office. For more information regarding AFIDA or FSA programs, contact your local USDA Service Center or visit farmers.gov.

Top advice for handling injuries on the farm

by Jay Stone/Georgia Farm Bureau News

Statesboro trauma surgeon Dr. John Martin says preventing a farm injury can be as simple as exercising common sense. “If it looks like it might be dangerous, don’t do it,” Dr. Martin says. When prevention fails, there are things that can be done to prevent an injury from becoming fatal after you call 911 and wait for medics to arrive. Martin’s top advice is: Do no additional harm. If possible, leave the person where they are and stabilize them. Martin’s advice for common farm injury scenarios are:

• Amputation: In some cases, a limb or a digit can be reattached surgically. To make this possible, the severed body part must be retrieved, cleaned and kept cool. “If you’ve got a source of clean water, rinse the part off, put it in a plastic bag and then wrap that in a towel and knot it. Don’t put the body part in direct contact with ice,” he said.

• Crushed by equipment: “Let’s say a piece of equipment just rolled over [someone] and they’re lying in the field,” Martin said. “You don’t want to move that person unless you absolutely must. Call for rescue and try to keep them warm. Even if it doesn’t seem cold, the body responds to traumatic situations by losing temperature. Cover them up. Keep them shaded if it’s hot. Warm them if it’s cool.”

• Impalement: If an object has pierced through a person, Martin says leave the object in place. The object might be preventing bleeding. Removing it could make the injury worse. If the ends of the object must be cut down to transport them, let a medic or someone with first responder training do that.

“Leave it in there.” Martin said.

• Broken limb: Stabilize a fractured arm or leg by securing it to something rigid like sticks, a piece of lumber, PVC pipe or steel rod.

“All bones are associated with nerves, arteries and veins,” Martin said. “Leave setting the limb to the professional. If it’s dislocated, pointing in any direction, immobilize it like it is. Do NOT try to fix it.”

• Unconscious but breathing: “You must be careful with moving injured victims without knowing how to do it. When the EMTs roll in, they’ll put a collar on them, use a spine board and maintain traction on the neck and the neurological elements to prevent that injury from precipitating a more traumatic event.”

• Poisoning: Most farm chemicals can be lethal if they contact facial features, large areas of skin or are ingested. Call 911 and then the Georgia Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-

The A GRICULTURE V OICES

Carroll County extension hires agricultural educator

from press release

Carroll County UGA Extension has announced that Merrill Folsom has joined their team as their Agricultural Educator. In his new role, Folsom will work alongside Agricultural Agent Paula Burke to bring ag-related educational programs, information, and resources to the Carroll County farming community.

The Carroll County Extension office, located in the Ag-Ed building, 900 Newan Road, Carrollton, is a partnership of the Carroll County Board of Commissioners and the University of Georgia to provide unbiased researched based information in the areas of agriculture, 4-H youth development, and family and consumer sciences to assist the citizens of Carroll County.

Merrill has lived in Villa Rica for the last 24 years and worked in Carroll County. Early in his career, he was a livestock feed additive salesman in North Carolina for two years.

For 34 years he worked with the Farm Credit System with North Georgia Farm Credit, AgGeorgia Farm Credit, and the last 14 years at AgSouth Farm Credit in Carrollton.

Folsom graduated from the University of Georgia, with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, majoring in Ag Economics, the Clemson Ag Finance School and the Georgia Agrileader Leadership Forum.

Folsom

He is a partner in a small cow-calf and hay operation raising Charolais Cattle in Winston, Georgia with his father-in-law Harold Parr.

He is married to Nannette Folsom for the last 26 years and they have 3 children; Abbey, Hammond and Parr.

During his Farm Credit career, Folsom said “We had no better supporter than the Extension Service. They were huge in my career to assist us in doing our job as lenders for the farmers we served. I look forward to continuing my career with Carroll County and UGA Extension and I am thankful for the opportunity.”

1222. Martin advises wearing gloves and face shields when treating a poisoning victim.

“The first thing is, don’t get it on yourself,” Martin said. “If the person’s clothes are covered [with the chemical], strip those off. Irrigate them with water to wash the chemical off the skin. Then, be concerned about hypothermia and cooling the person down too much.”

Wrap them in an uncontaminated blanket or clothing to fight hypothermia.

• Heat stroke: Drink lots of water and take breaks when working outside on hot, humid days. Take precautions even on cloudy or cool days. For someone with a heat-related injury, take steps to cool them: move them to a shaded area, get them to drink water, loosen or remove clothing and ice areas of the body where blood vessels are most exposed, like the armpits and the groin.

• Gunshot wounds: Martin emphasized that

See FARMINJURIES page 30

Superior Structures

Courthouse 5th floor buildout discussed at work session: cost $4,223, 056 ($4.22M)

Alternate actions which could raise final cost of $4,383,725 ($4.38M)

story by Janice Daniel Carroll County Board of Commissioners met for a (monthly) work session Thursday, May 2, 2024.

Consent Item #3 was a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a 5th Floor Courthouse Build-Out presented by Theron Gay, Jericho Design Group architect Doug Shaw, and Whitney Regan, Director of Interiors. The recommendation for the vendor is Vision General Contractors, headquartered in Cartersville, Georgia, pending review of funding availability. Gay, a consultant hired by Carroll County to assist in making decisions, recommended that the commission hire an owner’s representative to overlook the entire project to follow on a daily basis, and not do just periodic check-points.

Base cost for the 5th floor courthouse buildout is $4,223,056, with the possibility of three alternates actions which would result in a final cost of $4,383,725 ($4.38M). These alternate actions are:

District 2 Commissioner Clint Chance, who was on the committee that studied. . . the 5th Floor Courthouse Build-Out, said that the top two vendors who bid on this RFP plan to use many of the same subcontractors, many of them local

1. A cost increase of $30,262 for a 4th floor grand jury room and D.A. office.

2. A cost increase of $150,487 to remove wallpaper throughout courthouse and paint it

Happy Father's Day!

3. A cost reduction of $20,080 to not finish on the 5th floor breakroom and instead use it for a storage room

District 3 Commissioner Tommy Lee recused himself from voting on Consent Agenda Item #3.

District 2 Commissioner Clint Chance, who was on the committee that studied and made recommendations for the 5th Floor Courthouse Build-Out, said that the top two vendors who bid on this RFP plan to use many of the same sub-contractors, many of them local, and although they were rated the same by the committee, Vision General Contractors had the lowest bid.

Consent Item #4 was to approve Phase One of the total project budget for the new administration building on College Street. Josh Henson, Senior. Project Manager for Balfour Beatty, was there, along with county attorney Avery Jackson, Doug Shaw architect with Jericho Design Group, and two other associates from Balfour Beatty.

Henson reported that they are requesting the release of $14,909,141 ($14.9M) which was quoted as 40% of the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP described as Construction Manager at Risk), which identified the Phase 1 sub-contractors and equipment to be ordered. They wish to go ahead and order steel, HVAC, electrical materials, elevator, and concrete, in order to lock in current prices. He said that 22% of the sub-contractors chosen were local, and that was part of their goal in the 50% Design Development, which is planning structural systems, building systems, materials, etc., and where key building components are given the required dimension and code compliances are set and confirmed.

Commissioner Chance said that the sub-contractors in these areas will work together with

each other and with shop drawings in order to ensure a dual check and balance system, to which Henson and Shaw confirmed.

Henson said that the plan is to break ground in July, and then they’ll bring the last component of the GMP to the commission in September.

Lastly, county attorney Avery Jackson brought an item before the board which involves the County’s Enabling Legislation for Cost-of-Living Increases to county employees, last revised February 1989. This item was discussed in the regular (monthly) meeting on May 7th. (See story page 12.)

Lifetime Chiropractic

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day!

Edward Jones

The future of cancer care

has come to Carroll County.

Introducing the new Roy Richards, Sr. Cancer Center.

Our approach to treating cancer has always been remarkable for a community healthcare provider. Now, we offer a cancer center where the experience is on par with the quality.

Introducing the new Roy Richards, Sr. Cancer Center. The future is here.

FIRST IN THE NATION

We’re the first community cancer treatment provider to offer Varian TrueBeam with HyperSight — giving oncologists near-diagnostic quality images during treatments and making treatments faster and more accurate than ever.

COMMENTARY

StarNews / StarNews Online www.starnewsgaonline.com

“Not just what happened, but what matters”

SUSAN M. HORN EDITOR/PUBLISHER

ADVERTISINGDIRECTOR: WAYNE REYNOLDS GRAPHICS DESIGNER: SHERRY REYNOLDS

REPORTERS: JANICE DANIEL WAYNE REYNOLDS

Our goal is to produce a quality newspaper, locally oriented and designed with the readers’ interest in mind. Letters to the editor are welcomed and should include a signature, address/email addrees, phone number. Liability for an error will not exceed the cost of the space occupied by the error. We welcome reader input, ideas and criticisms. Your right to read this newspaper is protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.

Published monthly. Periodical postage paid permit #16154 Carrollton GA. Delivery mail/carrier $35 per two year subscription. $45 out of county. Send address changes: P.O. Box 680, Carrollton, GA 30112.

P.O. Box 680 Carrollton, GA 30112 © 2024 Palindrome Enterprises dba StarNews / StarNews Online suehorn.starnews@gmail.com cell: 770-301-1275

Subscribers and advertisers: a sincere thank YOU

SUE HORN EVANS

If you are reading this newspaper and are an advertiser or subscriber, I sincerely thank you for your support. You are the reason this newspaper publishes, in both the printed form and online form. You are the reason the First Amendment flourishes here in Carroll County. I am owner, publisher, and editor of StarNews and StarNews Online. It is the revenue from subscribers and advertisers that funds this small, independent business. Without you, this newspaper would not exist.

My first day on the job at a newspaper was April 28, 1986 when I was hired into production management for a mid-sized (32,000+ circulation) daily. From there, I earned promotions, survived a sell-off, then became embarrassed to say out loud that I worked for that newspaper chain. So, I quit. Then, I immediately went into the newspaper business with a partner, Bill Chappell, starting up an independent newspaper: The Carroll Star News, 1995-2009.

In January 2010, I formed and began publishing on my own StarNews and StarNews Online, two separate news products. The print form is published once a month; the online is a daily newspaper product.

StarNews’ front page page proudly states “A Free Independent Newspaper is Vital to a Free Country”. I can remain independent as long as I have subscribers and advertisers. It’s as simple as that. And as long as I am independent, I can publish the truth.

I have a goal of publishing StarNews more often than once a month, but that would require far more support. If you are not a subscriber, would you consider becoming one? $35 for a two year subscription; check or money order: StarNews P.O. Box 680Carrollton GA 30112.

If you would like information on advertising that fits your budget, please contact Wayne Reynolds at 770-722-7227. Thank YOU.

Lawsuit ruling could significantly increase septic tank servicing

The owners of Cedar Village Manufactured Home Community in Carrollton sued the City of Carrollton when the city refused to accept the byproduct of Cedar Village’s wastewater treatment plant. Cedar Village contends the city’s action is “arbitrary” and “capricious” since its disposal was initiated well over twenty years ago by the manager of the city’s wastewater treatment plant and has never caused any problem for the city’s plant, partly because the amount in question, about 5,000 gallons per month, is insignificant compared to the 3.5 millions gallons per day which the city’s plant processes. Cedar Village also points to the fact that the city accepts tens of thousands of gallons of septic tank waste daily. The city said it is prepared to stop accepting septic tank waste, forcing haulers in Carroll County to incur higher costs to dump outside the county.

Spencer Roane, president of Pentagon Properties and owner of Cedar Village Manufactured Home Community filed the lawsuit in 2020. The 44 acre community, that Roane has owned since 1987, is home to approximately 125 homes/families now with eventually reaching 200, comprising 500-600 individuals,

The City of Carrollton owns and operates a 7 million gallon per day wastewater treatment facility. Treatment is accomplished via a mechanical pretreatment facility, a solids dewatering process and a spray irrigation system. In order to effectively comply with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations, all industrial waste as well as food service discharges are monitored by the waste water department staff.

Currently, the facility treats an average of 3.5 million gallons each day.

In asking the City of Carrollton for comment, City Manager David Brookes responded, “Thank you for reaching out. This has been under litigation for four years or more now and I am not able to comment on the situation. There are court documents that are public records you may want to acquire. Again, thanks for the opportunity to respond but due to the litigation we are unable to do so at this time.”

Please elect me as your commissioner June 18th

“Listen to this voice,”, said Governor Zell Miller to all of America in 1992. Today, in 2024, I say the same to the voters of Carroll County’s Fifth District. Listen to the voice of hard work, honesty, dedication, and reason.

As a cattleman and farmer, I know the true value of hard work. I have put many long hours into operating and expanding my own cattle herd as well as maintaining those of fellow Carroll County citizens. I know the true value of applying this work ethic in a staple industry that is vital to Carroll County in not only image, but in the success and security of the county.

As your District 5 Commissioner, I will put just as much work into being your commissioner and serving our district and county as a whole as I have put into my business.

Honesty is a principle on which I have based my whole life. I have always told the truth to the best of my knowledge. If I find out the truth is otherwise, I will hurriedly apologize and correct my misstatement.

I believe in the Golden Rule.

I have never and will never use or exploit others for my own gain in a

BEN HICKS

CANDIDATE DISTRICT 5 Commissioner REPUBLICAN 770-722-5861 Bbcattleco17@gmail.com

dishonest or crooked way. As commissioner, I will bring these principles with me into office.

I will tell the citizens what I know to the best of my ability and will further inform if need be once I attain more or better information. I will not falsely inform them based upon halftruths, or formulated and opinionated facts.

As I’ve stated before, I have built my business from the ground up and I am dedicated to continuing to grow my own operation and helping others in maintaining their herds. I am dedicated to continuing being a member of the agricultural community and industry and being a voice within and for this.

If elected commissioner, I will be a dedicated voice for my district. I will

be the voice of concern, the voice of approval, and the voice of the people as your commissioner. I am dedicated to being part of continuing to make and keep our county the wonderful place it is to live and work.

If elected to be your commissioner, I will be a voice of reason in government dealings and affairs. I have done my best to be reasonable in my dealings in business, finances, and life. As commissioner, I will do the same. I will never vote blindly along one line or another.

I will decide based upon the facts, the wishes of District 5, and my best judgment. I will reason with my fellow commissioners to find the best solution to problems and fix them reasonably. I will be your voice of reason for District 5.

I hope I have shown that I am ready, willing, and able to be the commissioner representing District 5. My desire to the commissioner and voice of District 5 is one of pureness to want to help our county grow smartly and succeed greatly.

Please elect me, Ben Hicks your commissioner in the run-off election on June 18.

I humbly ask for your support, prayers, and vote June 18th

My name is Lee Powers. I am running to be your District 5 Commissioner for the Carroll County Board of Commissioners. I love Carroll County and will work hard to preserve our county for many generations to come.

My wife Sandy and I have been married 33 years and have two daughters and three grandchildren. We own two different farms here in the county. We have worked hard to pay them off. We love the country, rural lifestyle that living in Carroll County gives us. We raised our family here and are thankful for the opportunities and possibilities that Carroll County has given us.

I have owned and operated my own business for over 30 years. I know what it is to make tough decisions to keep it running during hard times. I know how to work within budget constraints to get a job done. I know how to work with

“We have all heard about voter fraud; and as you learn here and remember from the controversies surrounding the 2020 presidential election, the problem is real, widespread, and substantial to the point that it can decide elections. It drives honest citizens out of the democratic process and breeds distrust of our government.” - Tom Fitton---Judicial Watch Special Report 2024 Edition

This special report on the pressing issue of election integrity and voter fraud, spanning just 39 pages, avoids getting lost in the intricacies of each state’s situation. Currently, there are over 200 legal battles being waged in state and local courts, and local voting precincts, underscoring the alarming extent to which the radical left is

LEE POWERS

CANDIDATE DISTRICT 5 Commissioner REPUBLICAN 404-969-8169 jleepowers@gmail.com

others to achieve a mutually beneficial end result. I have the experience that Carroll County and District 5 needs to make good decisions and protect our rural lifestyles. I support quality growth that enhances our county and the tax base, but not growth that unequally burdens property owners.

I am a Christian and will prayerfully consider any and all decisions that are to be made as your District 5 Commissioner. I will work hard to ensure that your tax dollars

GEORGIATECH Beta Theta Pi tpittman4787@comcast.net

willing to subvert the laws that safeguard us from voter fraud. The following are key areas that demand our immediate attention: Voter rolls must be accurate. Pew Research (2015) found that “2.75 million people had active registrations in more than one state. Twenty-four million active voter registrations were no longer valid or significantly inaccu-

are being spent wisely and conservatively. I will be available to my constituents so that open lines of communication are always there. I am also committed to prioritizing the well-being of our county employees. They are the lifeblood of our county. I will always back our law enforcement and first responders.

I am a firm believer that experience matters. I am a certified commissioner by the University of Georgia and can hit the ground running on the first day of my term. I have the experience and knowledge required to do you the citizens of Carroll County a good job as your commissioner. I will need no on-the-job training.

I believe the best days are still ahead of us here in Carroll County. Hard work and determination will be required and I stand ready to do all that is necessary to move us there. I humbly ask for your prayers, support, and vote on Tuesday, June 18th.

rate, and 1.8 million deceased individuals were listed as active voters.”

A 2014 study by political scientists from Old Dominion University concluded that 14.6% of foreign nationals were on voter rolls.” In 2017, Judicial Watch sent warning notices to 12 states containing over 100 counties that had more registered voters than citizens of voter age. California, New York City, and North Carolina removed 2 million voters from their rolls. In total, twelve states removed four million voters. So, what could go wrong with sending everyone on a voter roll a ballot?

Private, outside money impacting election outcomes seriously threatens honest elections. Wisconsin is one of 28 states where voters approved con-

EDITOR/ PUBLISHER See TRAVIS PITTMAN page 24

Americans have lost trust in government

LEE HAMILTON

PROFESSOR

Indiana University Center on Representative Government

Americans are more dissatisfied with their government than the citizens of any other major democracy, according to an analysis by the Washington Post. And we seem to be growing more skeptical of government every year.

In 1964, when I was first elected to Congress, nearly 80% of Americans trusted government to do the right thing all or most of the time. In a sense, it made the job easier. You knew that most constituents would trust your decisions or at least give you the benefit of the doubt.

Today, the numbers have reversed. Fewer than 20% of Americans trust government, according to polling by the Pew Research Center. Trust is higher, often much higher, in most other democracies, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Japan.

The question is, what caused this change?

There’s no simple answer, but I believe it reflects the plain fact that Americans want their government to deal with the issues that affect them, and they don’t see that happening. As the Post’s Dan Balz and Clara Ence Morse write, Americans “believe the political system is broken and that it fails to represent them. They aren’t wrong.”

justice system and other institutions.

. . . every state has two senators, regardless of population, which gives disproportionate power to less populous states.

“The result is that today, a minority of the population can exercise outsize influence on policies and leadership,” Balz and Morse write, “leading many Americans increasingly to feel that the government is a captive of minority rule.”

Of course, the erosion of trust in government isn’t entirely new. Trust fell precipitously in the 1960s as Americans grew disillusioned with the Vietnam War. It continued to drop in the next decade, an era of high inflation and the Watergate scandal. It recovered somewhat in the 1980s, fell again, then rose with the strong economy of the 1990s. The 9/11 attacks brought a resurgence of patriotism, and over half the country trusted the government to do the right thing.

In recent years, however, trust has been in a slump. Since 2007, trust in government hasn’t topped 30%. Trust has also declined in big business, the news media, higher education, the

The Post analysis ties distrust of government to two sets of factors. One is that provisions in the U.S. Constitution make government unresponsive to majority rule. The other is that today’s intensely partisan politics make our representatives less likely to get things done. The Constitution has served us well for 235 years; but, as the Post analysis notes, some of its features reflect the founders’ distrust of public opinion.

One is the fact that the president is chosen by the Electoral College, not directly by the voters. In two recent elections, in 2000 and 2016, a candidate who lost the popular vote became president. Another is the fact that every state has two senators, regardless of population, which gives disproportionate power to less populous states.

“The result is that today, a minority of the population can exercise outsize influence on

policies and leadership,” Balz and Morse write, “leading many Americans increasingly to feel that the government is a captive of minority rule.”

Also, gerrymandering and the concentration of like-minded people in blue or red states means that fewer elections are competitive. Just a handful of swing states decide presidential contests. Many Americans don’t think their vote matters because, in practical terms, it doesn’t.

Also, it’s no secret that our nation has become much more politically polarized. With the growth of social media, cable TV, and talk radio, many Americans live in partisan bubbles. To win elections, politicians appeal to the extremes and refuse to compromise. But compromise is necessary to address the issues that people care about, like immigration, jobs, abortion and gun control.

Here’s the thing: Americans, for the most part, are reasonable people. They understand that these are tough problems to solve. They certainly don’t expect miracles, but they do want to see an effort being made to deal with the issues that affect them.

They want to have a sense that their leaders are committed to making progress. When they don’t see that, it’s no wonder they lack trust in government.

AI plays a significant role in shaping the experiences of adolescents

CEDDRICK LOVVINS

As technology continues to advance, adolescents are increasingly exposed to artificial intelligence (AI) in their daily lives. From virtual assistants such as Alexa by Amazon, Google Home Mini by Google, Siri by Apple, and yes, even Bixby by Samsung to recommendation algorithms from companies such as Google Search, YouTube, TikTok, and others; AI plays a significant role in shaping their experiences.

We have moved past ChatGPT being the only “game” in town. Large corporations such as Microsoft and Google have their own AIs. Microsoft has Copilot and Google has Gemini. Facebook and every social site that your ado-

River hideaway

SYBIL ROSEN THOMAS

River Rambles syllabil17@aol.com

The year is 1910. A small shack is being built on the banks of the Chattahoochee River west of Whitesburg. It is one of three fish camps along this stretch of river. The informal restaurant will serve up fresh catfish fried to perfection, hush puppies, simple sides, and an endless supply of sweet tea.

The cabin grows up out of the river. Built into a foothill, the three-foot pillars on which its back end rests are made of upland rocks soddered together with mortar of red clay and sand deposited by floods. Oaks and pines watered in the floodplain are sacrificed for

lescents visit are incorporating some type of AI technology. There is no escaping it.

You can use AI to assist with a multitude of tasks from helping with homework to settling “lack of information” arguments. You can make music and one of a kind artwork. You can write songs or stories. The number and types of AI, and what they can do, is growing every day. Our youth are visiting these sites now.

concepts more effectively. Adolescents can explore new topics, languages, and skills through AI powered apps and platforms.

There are increased privacy and security risks. AI collects data on users’ preferences, behaviors, and interactions. Adolescents may not fully understand the implications. Privacy breaches or data misuse can harm their financial and mental well being.

However, allowing adolescents to use AI unsupervised comes with both benefits and risks. As a youth’s parent, it’s essential to understand these aspects to guide young individuals effectively. Let’s explore some of the benefits and dangers of AI.

Some of the pros include enhanced learning opportunities. AI can provide personalized learning experiences. Adaptive educational platforms use AI algorithms to tailor content to individual students’ needs, helping them grasp

lumber to make the walls, doors, and the wideplanked oak floors underfoot.

The kitchen will sit just behind the heavy front door, opening into a long dining room with a stone fireplace at one end and two small bedrooms off. The fireplace chimney is masoned with river rock and odd white shards whose origins are unknown. A deep claw-foot bathtub dominates the bathroom which has a narrow porch off its backdoor. And down below, the river flows past every day, heedless of the hammering and sawing, silently culling off chunks of shore and slowly creeping closer to the new shack on her banks.

The year is 1940. The 30-year-old cabin is having a varied life. Hundreds of people have already passed through its doors. During the Great Depression, it served as a dance hall where kids might come to jig for nickels. An old man brings his grandchildren down to the fish camp to dance. When his grandson’s performance is less than inspired, the grandfather

Also, there are increased efficiency and productivity gains. AI tools can automate tasks, such as or ganizing schedules, managing reminders, and even proofreading essays. Adolescents can focus on creative endeavors or other meaningful activities instead of mundane tasks. Also, there is access to information and knowledge. AI driven search engines and recommendation systems provide instant access to vast amounts of information. Adolescents can learn about diverse topics, cultures, and historical events. Last on this extremely abridged list is improved mental health support: AI chatbots and mental health apps offer confidential support for adolescents struggling with anxiety, depression, or stress. These tools can provide

pounds the table and shouts, “Lift those knees, dammit, boy! Lift those knees!”

Fancy folk from Coweta County take the ferry across the Chattahoochee to slum at the camp. During the Roaring ‘20s, Prohibition turned the shack into a speakeasy where moonshine from a neighbor’s still could be obtained. Sometimes the place is whispered to be a gambling den and perhaps a brothel. A murder is said to have been commited here, a mystery that is never solved.

The cabin changes hands. For a time it serves as a factory where local seamstresses stitch gloves for pennies an hour. One summer it transforms itself into a Christian camp for kids, possibly redemption for all its previous sins. And still the river rushes by, ignoring human foibles, ebbing and flowing from drought and hurricane, flood by flood carrying the water nearer to the people who live and die alongside her.

The year is 1970. The year before, a profes-

coping strategies, relaxation techniques, and crisis intervention.

Some of the cons include an over reliance on technology. Adolescents may become overly dependent on AI for entertainment, problem solving, or decision making. Relying solely on AI can hinder critical thinking skills and creativity.

There are increased privacy and security risks. AI collects data on users’ preferences, behaviors, and interactions. Adolescents may not fully understand the implications. Privacy breaches or data misuse can harm their financial and mental well being.

Additionally, there is preprogrammed bias and discrimination. AI algorithms can inherit biases present in training data. Adolescents may unknowingly perpetuate stereotypes or discriminatory views. Educating them about bias and encouraging critical evaluation of AI recommendations is crucial.

Again, and finally, on this extremely abridged list is an emotional disconnect. Interacting with AI can lead to emotional

See CEDDRICK LOVVINS page 23

sor at Georgia Tech saw a classified ad in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution entitled “River Hideaway.” He and his wife and her three kids are enchanted by the cabin. The professor buys the shack and 2-and-a-half acres for $11,000 and soon after moves his family into it fulltime.

The cabin, he discovers, has excellent bones. It generously holds the hippies, artists, and students who gather by the river to debate the state of the world, and make music and love. The professor begins to grow the house. He (literally) raises the roof, extends the walls, adds a new kitchen for his wife and bunkrooms for his teenage stepkids. He and his friends lay decks and porches, homegrown verandas hemming the house. And he builds sheds. Eighteen of them, cascading in bunches up the drive like an overnight sprouting of honey mushrooms. One day a grizzled fellow knocks on the cabin door. The old man tells the professor that

Millennials Christian Ministry (MCM)

COMMENTARY

DUANE HACK

West Georgia Right to Life PRESIDENT

“The Heartbeat of Georgia” Duanehack46@gmail.com 470-370-2452

From now until November 5th, we’ll all be inundated with numerous flyers, emails, texts, phone calls, TV ads, and campaign speeches soliciting our support for a specific candidate: Republican, Democrat, Libertarian or a third party candidate.

One of the benefits of a free society is every individual can enjoy the freedom to make choices - good and bad - within the law. Enjoying the liberty to make our own choices is highly valued. So, political groups market themselves as supporting Americans’ autonomy of choice. Let’s take a moment and define the meanings of the words for our conversation:

Pro: “Noun, which indicates an argument or debate in favor of something.” “To promote”, “stepping forward”, “speaking for something or someone by stating its advantages”.

Life: “the existence of an individual human being or animal”. “a human person is the biological development of the species homo sapiens that begins when a human egg is fertilized by a human sperm and continues to develop as a living organism.”

Choice: “an act of selecting or making a decision when faced with two or more possibilities” “An act of choosing” “Power of choosing an option”

Let’s review some of the irony we find in the reasoning within the “pro-choice” thought process? Many Pro-choice activists proudly proclaim themselves as pro-choice, yet so many appear to be only pro-choice concerning the termination of an unwanted pregnancy and the life of another human being? The choice, based upon the definitions listed and defined above, are clear: one can either be Pro-Life or Pro-Death.

Many Pro-Choice individuals oppose Americans having the right to choose to exercise their First Amendment free speech rights. This is evidenced by their support for the proliferation of restrictive hate speech codes on so many state colleges, universities, and now even K-12 campuses. We see this in news articles about children being suspended from public schools for merely drawing a soldier, playing with a toy gun, or throwing a fake grenade.

Pro-Choice activists are generally opposed to Americans exercising their Second Amendment right to choose which kind of gun they choose for protection or personal hunting purposes. In fact, many oppose anyone having the right to choose to own any gun.

These same Pro-Choice individuals usually oppose parental-choice vouchers, which empower poor, disproportionally parents to choose their children’s school. Such choice

Papa and the West Calumb, part 2

digi@mindspring.com

In part 1 of this article, I introduced my parents, made mention of their lives before they met, and then got into some detail of how my father became a seaman along with other youths and cousins who had originated from the same island that my parents had been born on.As a child, I was treated to a view of the world that was based on adventurous and often comic stories. In particular, many of those stories happened while Papa served on the S.S. West Columb

My father told me most of these stories. His lifelong friend, Ted (Theodore Campanias) told me some more and, later in life, filled in with details that were more suitable for a grown-up listener. There were other fellow-islanders who eventually joined the crew, but I never knew them. Ted and my dad were very close, much more than the others. Here’s one of the very earliest:

They’d sailed up the Rio de la Plata on the Argentine side, about 40 or 50 miles north of Buenos Aires, to load lumber. While this was happening, Ted and my father would spend their days on shore “exploring the jungle”. They’d never experienced such deep green splendor. They would also spend time at the river’s edge with some elementary fishing gear, quietly conversing in Greek.

One day a native male came into the clearing and observed them. Ted mumbled to my father, to watch out, when the young stranger ran over to them - “Excuse me, but are you two Greeks?”, and he was asking - in Greek!

Turns out that his father was from Greece, and years before while escaping the law, had met and fell in love with a local girl and settled in the village where she’d been born. Their child had been taught to speak Greek. So, that’s where the young man took them, to his home to meet his Papa. And, there was the old man, now a respected elder of his village. Big day, all ‘round.

Later that week, when the ship was being readied to sail, a canoe came alongside with a large gift from the village: a tied-up crocodile. The captain, who was from Ohio, was drunk enough to accept, and later was sane enough to release the animal. I think the village meant for the gift to be cooked. Later in life, I doubted this detail of the crocodile-gift, even though our friend Ted did include it in his many retells of the story! But, that captain? A strange man, and a drunkard.

Once, age 9 or 10, I asked Papa if he had ever seen a slave. I’d been doing some homework, while he was mopping up before closing the restaurant. He stood there, holding the mop as if he were presenting a long-rifle, and after some thought said “No. . . but, once, I saw a Dutchman whipping workers, screaming at them. They were loading bananas, and it was getting late. That was in Java.”

That was on the same ship - had to be - the S.S. West Columb, because in recent years, with the help of the internet, I located an old newspaper story from the Java Times (I hope I’m remembering the newspaper’s name correctly) stating that the New York owners of the S.S. West Columb were publicly declaring that they were no longer responsible for any damages done in Java by its captain or its crew!

It wasn’t that the crew had rebelled against the captain, but rather the captain had joined his crew and they were all engaging in drunken destructiveness. (I’m still trying to find some plot that would fit the facts.) At any rate, you can understand why I’ve referred to that cap-

vouchers offer so many impoverished innercity children the only realistic hope of escape from too-often failing public schools where they have been assigned by the government. This is all the more sad considering how studies show poor children perform much better in voucher schools.

So many Pro-Choice individuals want taxpayers to have no choice but to pay for poor women’s abortions. American taxpayers paid $1.78 billion dollars to institutions like Planned Parenthood between FY2019 and FY2021.

Most Pro-Choice activists are so uncompromising on abortion that they want federal courts to strip states of their choice to pass reasonable abortion regulations, such as having abortion clinics tell women about alternatives to abortion (like adoption) or to present the different stages of fetal development of the baby in the womb. ProChoice activists also want federal and state governments to deny their state’s right to choose to have a 24-hour waiting period law, which would require a woman to wait 24 hours once the appointment is made for an abortion. Several states now oppose parental notification for juveniles under the age of 18.

So, let’s regroup and take inventory here.

-If a person is truly Pro-Choice, then why would that individual not allow the innocent baby in the womb to have an opportunity for life? In essence you have taken their right to choose life away from them.

-If it’s a woman’s right to choose to do what they want with their body, let’s step back

tain as a strange man. Ancestry.com makes it possible that the captain and his next-in-charge, the First Mate, might have known each other earlier in life: Of similar age, they were born less than 100 miles from each other in the area where West Virginia and Ohio have common border. Well, you can understand my curiosity. (They could have buddied-up while in the Navy during WWI. But, I digress.) Yet, the poor ship just might have been scuttled, a year later, when it sank in Brooklyn! The Revenge of the Captain? If only Papa were still alive. Again. I digress. Sorry.

Once, I asked Papa to tell me about what was the biggest wave that he’d ever seen. It was a few years after my question about a slave. I was now a member of some organization like “Sea Cadets”, intensively learning to tie knots, executing marching orders, boxing,

CEDDRICK LOVVINS from page 22

detachment. Adolescents may prefer virtual companions over real life relationships. Encouraging face to face interactions and emotional intelligence is essential.

Setting safe boundaries is of the utmost importance. Explore AI with your youth. Consider the following guidelines: Let’s start with education and awareness. Teach adolescents about AI, its benefits, and its limitations. Discuss privacy, ethical considerations, and responsible AI use. Next, be involved. Parents should engage with their children’s AI experiences. Set boundaries and monitor usage to ensure a healthy balance.

Sharpen their critical thinking skills. Foster critical thinking by encouraging adolescents to question AI recommendations. Help them recognize biases and evaluate information independently.

Lastly, emphasize real life connections. Promote face to face interactions, empathy, and emotional intelligence. Remind adolescents that AI is a tool, not a replacement for genuine

a minute. Slightly over 50% of all births in America are of the female gender. By taking the life of that female, you have in essence gone against the basis of your argument, a woman’s right to choose? The aborted female has now lost their right to choose.

-And to our politicians who endorse and cling to the tag line “I’m Pro-life, vote for me.”

Please refer back to what the definitions listed above and state concerning “Pro” and “Life.”

I have to question your political stance and talking points: re you truly Pro-Life in how it’s defined above and would adhere to all lives matter, from fertilization to natural death? Are you willing to place a stake in the ground and have a conviction that states “I’m Pro-Life with no exceptions”, because any exception contradicts what the true meaning of what Pro-life is! It’s a personal conviction that is cemented by life’s true definition and not by the results of different poll agencies across the county, state or in America!

One cannot say “I’m Pro-Life”, the end result is Pro-Death!

That exception could have easily turned out to be the next governor of Georgia, the doctor who creates a cure for cancer, the pastor of the local congregation you attend or that hard working father or mother who strives to be the best parent and provider they can be and the protector over the well-being of their children, who will do all they can to grant them a CHOICE and OPPORTUNITY to be successful in all they do!

and occasionally going deep-sea fishing on Saturdays out on the Atlantic. But I asked the question (about the biggest wave) while doing homework, s my father mopped up. This time he was excited and was remembering a great fear, and I could see it:

It was the Winter of 1927, in the North Atlantic, bound for New York. This was not the West Calumb. The waves were so high, that the ship felt like it was climbing mountains. And when the ship reached a wave’s crest, where the waters were choppiest, it was Hell! For those minutes, at the crest, and just after the crest, the rudder was often out of the water and the ship would be out of control and could capsize. Constantly, ice formed in sheets and got washed away. Papa vowed, if he ever made it back to port, he would never go to sea again.

See BILL BOURIS page 30

human connections.

AI is a wonderful tool when used correctly. It is neither good nor bad, but can be likened to a gun. You can use a gun to hunt and feed your family. You can also use a gun to commit a crime. In either instance, the gun is neither good nor bad, but the intentions of the user. Working with our kids to give them a better understanding of what AI is and how to use it effectively, is how we avoid (going back to my analogy) “using a gun to commit a crime”. Training our youth correctly will help them have the right relationship with AI. We can expect that they will not become over reliant individuals who seem awkward in society because they can provide the correct prompts to AI, but not the correct interactions with human beings.

In conclusion, AI can empower adolescents when used wisely, but it requires guidance and supervision. As a parent, your role includes equipping young minds with the knowledge and discernment needed to navigate the digital landscape effectively.

Stars on The Mountain

PATRICK YURAN

Headmaster OAK MOUNTAIN ACADEMY

Oak Mountain Academy is truly blessed with many bright shining stars on The Mountain these days. Our student body shines the brightest of all.

Academically, our current graduating class has already earned over $2.2 million in college scholarship offers and 100% of them have been accepted to a variety of top-notch universities including the University of Georgia, Georgia Institute of Technology, Moorehouse College and Samford University, just to name a few. Nestled among these many bright shining

stitutional amendments that would ban private funds, dubbed “Zuckerbucks,” from being used in election administration. “Dark Money” in politics is money gathered to influence elections, public policy, and political discourse where neither the donor nor the source is disclosed. Proponents of the 1st Amendment have argued this interferes with free speech. 501(c)(4) social welfare organizations can receive unlimited donations from corporations, individuals, and unions. Foreign Nationals often use this charity backdoor. The House Judiciary Committee found that in the 2008 election cycle, ACORN (Associations of Community Organizations for Reform Now) had registered 1.3 million voters in 21 states, of which a third were fraudulent: 70 employees in 12 states were involved. Obama’s involvement with ACORN is interesting during his activist years in Chicago.

Constitutionally, voting procedures are left to the state legislatures to make the rules,

RIVER RAMBLES from page 22

as a kid he helped his father build that fireplace. The professor invites him in. He’s always been curious about the strange white pieces that ornament the chimney. The fellow explains that his father had this old commode, so they busted it up and added a little porcelain to the rock work. One mystery solved as on goes the river, hurrying to the sea, braiding her own story and sculpting her channel ever-nearer to the cabin.

stars on The Mountain are two graduating seniors - Ruby Erben and Josie Farmer - who graduated at the top of their class in 2024.

Ruby Caroline Harrison Erben is OMA’s Class of 2024 Valedictorian and has been a student at Oak Mountain Academy for eight years. Throughout her tenure on The Mountain, Ruby has excelled inside and outside the classroom through participation in various academic, arts, and athletic programs. She has received numerous academic accolades, including Carroll County’s STAR Student of the Year, AP Scholar with Distinction & Honor, and is a UGA Certificate of Merit honoree. She is a state champion in argumentative writing and has published a short story entitled, “A Few Bad Decisions,” in the Times-Georgian.

Ruby is also gifted in the arts participating in many State & Region Literary and One Act Play competitions, and has been performing and competing on piano for over fourteen years. In athletics, Ruby has been a competitive

which could lead to 50 different ways to conduct an election. In the 2020 election, we had Secretaries of State, Attorney Generals, Judges, and local officials changing election procedures to accommodate voters hampered by covid restrictions. These changes included expanded mail-in voting, extended deadlines, ballot drop boxes, and drive-through voting. The 2020 election had one of the highest voter turnouts in decades. In a few core counties in Atlanta, Georgia, over half of voters who voted by mail used drop boxes to submit mail-in ballots. Georgia’s turnout rate was almost 70% of registered voters.

tennis player for many years and recently won the title of Tennis Singles Girls Champion in her region. In the fall, she will attend the Morehead Honors College at the University of Georgia and plans to pursue a degree in the humanities.

Alice Josephine (Josie) Farmer is OMA’s Class of 2024 Salutatorian and has been a student at Oak Mountain Academy for thirteen years. Throughout her tenure at Oak Mountain Academy, Josie has distinguished herself as an academic scholar, musical performer, and exceptional all-around leader. She receives high honors from her peers and staff for her performance inside and outside of the classroom in all three above-mentioned categories.

Josie is a two-time AP Scholar, College Board Rural & Small Town Scholar, and holds active membership in the National and French Honor Societies. As a performer, she is a One Act Play Competetior, State & Region Literary

extensive violations of ballot harvesting. While correlation does not prove causation, the conclusions of wrongdoing are compelling.

Wikipedia and Ballotpedia are good sources if you are interested in America’s history of the voting process. By 1993, the NVRA (National

1st Place Vocalist, and a Governor’s Honors Vocal Music Semi-finalist.

As a leader Josie has excelled through the Rotary Youth Leadership program, is an OMA Citizenship Award recipient, and a Chamber Youth Leadership Academy graduate. She is also a competitive equestrian rider and has excelled in this sport for the past thirteen years. In the fall, she will attend Samford University and plans to pursue a degree in music with a minor in visual arts.

Throughout our time together at Oak Mountain Academy, I have grown to respect both Ruby and Josie as exceptional students, gifted leaders, and all around top-notch human beings. They are truly young women with exceptional character, many talents, and an overabundance of God-given gifts.

I speak for all of us at Oak Mountain Academy when I say how incredibly proud we are of both young women and truly blessed to have been a part of their educational journey!

One hard stat for lazy Republicans in Georgia is that in 2020, Trump won election day by 23 points but lost the mail-in by 30 points. It would be interesting to know how many of the 380,000 votes that are missing are mail-in.

Ballot harvesting is legal in some states, although the possibility of fraud is high. One highly debated instance was voting in care facilities in Wisconsin. Ballot harvesters invaded the voter-rich establishments housing 92,000 residents. Nursing homes in five counties showed at least 95% of residents had voted. The documentary “2000 Mules” detailed many events that seemed to show

those knees!”

The professor invites him in.

He’s always been curious about the strange white pieces that ornament the chimney. The fellow explains that his father had this old commode, so they busted it up and added a little porcelain to the rock work. One mystery solved as on goes the river, hurrying to the sea, braiding her own story and sculpting her channel ever-nearer to the cabin.

The year is 2000. The place is quieter now. The professor has divorced, remarried, divorced again. Alone in his sixties, he guts fifteen of the eighteen sheds and builds another cabin on the property. Soon a woman comes to live in the new house. She is a writer.

Eventually they will fall in love, marry, stay together for eleven years. When the professor dies in his bed, his face turned toward the river, the woman moves into what was once the fish camp, gets a dog, spends her days watching the river, awash in grief. In time the river - and the dog - will heal her.

The planks on the floor undulate now with age and humidity. The woman can hear the echoing footsteps of the multitudes that have trod them. “Lift those knees, dammit, boy! Lift

The professor had been a good steward of the cabin, keeping nature back. The woman tends to invite nature in. Where once the cabin’s tradition of hospitality drew people, now the house and land around attract woodpeckers, armadillos, and all manner of creeping things, animal and plant. Vines grow up over the porch railings: jasmine, honeysuckle, Virginia creeper. They invade the bedroom and run down the stones of the chimney. The woman imagines herself dying at one hundred in the same bed where her husband died, jasmine vines growing over her body like a fragrant white shroud. She wonders what will happen to the cabin then. Who will love it after she is gone? Will the river one day sweep away whatever remains? It is a mystery.

But the woman knows one thing for certain: the old fish camp belongs to the Chattahoochee and always has. And the river can be patient. She has all the time in the world.

Year after year, she edges closer, blind to the tick and tock of time and tales, shaping the shoreline and the lives of those that have the good fortune to spend their days on Earth beside her.

Voter Registration Act) bill was introduced because voter turnout was at an all-time low. Coupled with Executive Order 12926, it allowed institutions like the DMV (state-run) and many federal agencies the opportunity to aid in voter registration. Immediately, several states filed a suit saying that the federal government violated our constitution since this action was only legal for the states. Bill passed in 1995.

Trends in voting show how tech and culture have changed our voting habits. Thirty years ago, 90% of voters did it on election day, and

by 2020, the number had shrunk to 30.6%. The significant number in election stats is that mailin voting almost doubled from 2016(24%) to 2020(46%). One hard stat for lazy Republicans in Georgia is that in 2020, Trump won election day by 23 points but lost the mail-in by 30 points. It would be interesting to know how many of the 380,000 votes that are missing are mail-in.

I hope this does not deter someone from voting, but now with so few voters voting on Election Day, about 22 counties in five states determine our presidential election. Heavy Democratic counties around large cities are capitalizing on a system that invites fraud. Many countries have tried the way we are doing elections and have come to the same conclusion. In 17 countries in the EU, many Latin and South American countries have banned most, if not all, mail-in voting.

This election in November will let us know if the efforts to eliminate some fraud have worked and to what degree. Rest assured that the left will have many new, legal, and illegal methods to capture votes, and the right is not innocent.

TRAVIS PITTMAN from page 21

Jones, Jr., May 16, 2019, 2019 Lovvorn, age 1932, died 2019 McGill, age 76, 1941, died 2019 Mullis, Jr., age 1948, died Nichols, age 66, died Friday, Sanders, age 79, died July

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

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

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

Willie Mae Allen, age 79, born April 18, 1945, died on June 1, 2024

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

William Randy George, age 66, born July 28, 1957, died on May 23, 2024

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

Clyde Jackson Alford, age 87, born August 5, 1936, died on May 8, 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jacky Franklin Bell, age 73, born September 28, 1950, died on May 7, 2024

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

Cheryl Phillips Lambert, age 56, born March 28, 1968, died on May 18, 2024

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

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

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

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

Mavis Yvonne Brown, age 86, born August 18, 1937, died on May 18, 2024

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

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

Tommie Frances Florville, age 90, born June 16, 1933, died on May 6, 2024

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

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

Linda Henson, age 82, born November 21, 1941, died on May 12, 2024

Bruce McHoul, age 77, born November 6, 1946, died on May 15, 2024

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

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

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

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

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

Vada Lue Miller, age 91, born April 10, 1933, died on June 4, 2024

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

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

Lois Maxine Post, age 104, born December 8, 1919, died on May 10, 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bobbie Jean Chapman Cogland, age 92, born February 23, 1932, died on June 4, 2024

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

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

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

Clint Houpe, age 31, born January 18, 1993, died on May 28, 2024

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

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

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

Janice Doss Phillips, age 75, born August 28, 1948, died on May 4, 2024

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

Charles Edward Cole, Sr., age 94, born December 14, 1929, died on May 29, 2024

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

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

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

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

Virginia Ruth Culpepper, age 93, born March 8, 1931, died on June 6, 2024

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

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

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

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

Morris Anthony Iles, Jr., age 77, born February 8, 1947, died on May 13, 2024

Blanca Isabel Rodriguez, age 66, born August 1, 1957, died on May 4, 2024

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

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

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

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

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

Cheryl Ann Segers, age 66, born December 24, 1957, died on May 24, 2024

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

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

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

Willard Maxwell Davidson, Jr., age 73, born June 12, 1950, died on May 5, 2024

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

Hubert Jackson Jones, Sr., age 81, born August 16, 1942, died on May 3, 2024

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

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

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

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

Sylvia Ann Taylor, age 84, born January 12, 1940, died on May 21, 2024

Janet Edwards Latimer, age 77, born July 31, 1946, died on May 7, 2024

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mary Ann Taylor, age 90, born January 24, 1934, died on May 4, 2024

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

Master age 2 months, died Thursday, “Marjorie” 86, born Wednesday, Andra born October Wednesday, Eugene 70, born Monday, Randy born June July 26, Ara Bell born August 24, 2019

Carroll County Department of Public Health

To view complete inspection details: dph.georgia.gov/environmental-health

restaurant health inspections scores

Following restaurants received a score of 100 during a MAY inspection:

AGW Ice Cream mobile201 Newnan Road Carrollton 100

Blue Bike Bistro 706 Dixie Street Carrollton 100

Smoothie King

364 Mirror Lake Boulevard Villa Rica 100

SNM 108 108 Alabama Street Carrollton 100

The Buzz Truck 55 EMeadowcliff Circle Carrollton 100

Fine as Shine BBQ83 Hominy CreekRoad Carrollton 100

Wendy’s 360 Mirror Lake Boulevard Villa Rica 100

5/23/2024: Subway 1735 Highway 27 S Carrollton 99 previous NA

5/03/2024: Little Mexico 139 City Hall Avenue Bowdon 99 previous NA

5/02/2024: Monterrey Mexican 941 Alabama Avenue Bremen 99 previous NA

5/06/2024: Carroll County Training Center 200 Alton Estes DR Carrollton 98 previous 97

5/24/2024: Starbucks 700 Highway 61 Villa Rica 98 previous 93

5/02/2024: McDonald’s 116 Carrollton Villa Rica Hwy Villa Rica 97 previous 98

5/07/2024: Wendy’s 625Carrollton Street Temple 96 previous 96

5/06/2024: Jimmy John’s 1213 Maple Street Carrollton 96 previous 95

5/29/2024: Fairfield Plantation Beach 7418 E Isleway Villa Rica 96 previous 91

5/07/2024: Simply Catering 401 Maple Street Carrollton 95 previous NA

5/29/2024: Bojangles 750 Highway 61 Villa Rica 94 previous 83

5/15/2024: Tren Tropical 957 Alabama Street Carrollton 93 previous 91

5/21/2024: Pilot Travel Subway 95 Liberty Road Villa Rica 93 previous NA

5/28/2024: Oak Mountain Golf Pool House 409 Birkdale BLVD Carrollton 92 previous 100

5/10/2024: Pelican’s Snoballs 113 W Bankhead Hwy Villa Rica 92 previous 100

5/21/2024: Shane’s Rib Shack 1141 Bankhead Hwy Carrollton 92 previous 96

5/10/2024: Mama’s Downhome Kitchen 1141 Bankhead Hwy Carrollton 91 previous 100

5/14/2024: Bell Street Burritos 660 W Bankhead Hwy Villa Rica 91 previous 100

5/14/2024: Mt. Zion Community Center 4455 Mt. Zion Rd Carrollton 91 previous 95

5/06/2024: Five Star Food Service 1 Decoma Drive Carrollton 91 previous 95

5/22/2024: Waffle House #2046 1122 Maple Street Carrollton 91 previous 95

5/07/2024: Waffle House #974 1201 Bankhead Hwy Carrollton 91 previous 94

5/15/2024: Quality Inn 700 South Park Street Carrollton 91 previous 85

5/07/2024: Carrollton Senior Center 220 West Ave Carrollton 90 previous 95

5/22/2024: Sips Soda Shop 920 Maple Street Carrollton 90 previous 92

5/28/2024: Bowdon Senior Center 101 Barr Avenue Bowdon 89 previous 90

5/23/2024: Jerry’s Burgers 820 Dallas Highway Villa Rica 89 previous 88

5/07/2024: Pilgrim’s Pride 616 Kingsbridge Road Carrollton 89 previous 87

5/06/2024: Carrollton Club Retirement 130 Cedar St Carrollton 88 previous 99

5/15/2024: Comfort Inn 104 S Cottage Hill Road Carrollton 88 previous 87

5/06/2024: Zaxby’s 200 Cooley Drive Villa Rica 88 previous 85

5/29/2024: China/Sino Foods 1335 South Park Street Carrollton 87 previous 91

5/08/2024: La Estacion MOBILE 1018 Main Street Whitesburg 86 previous 100

5/08/2024: La Estacion 1018 Main Street Whitesburg 86 previous 78

5/10/2024: Kentucky Fried Chicken 155 Hwy 27 N Bremen 84 previous 87

5/28/2024: Bowdon’s Country Kitchen 710 E College St Bowdon 83 previous 97

5/06/2024: Popeye’s 95 Hwy 27 Bypass Bremen 83 previous 94

5/31/2024: Heaven is Your Home 106 Adamson Sq Carrollton 83 previous 90

5/24/2024: Brookdale Retirement 530 Northside Dr Carrollton 81 previous 86

5/14/2024: Martin’s 1100 Bankhead Highway Villa Rica 81 previous 83

5/08/2024: El Morelia 225 Davis Boulevard Bremen 80 previous 70

5/15/2024: Kobe Japanese 519 Bankhead Highway Carrollton 79 previous 86

Violations: Observed pink slime mold-like buildup on ice machine. observed multiple items on countertop above 41F including shelled eggs 60F, rice 55F, cabbage 53F.

5/23/2024: Waffle House #1514 592 Highway 61 Villa Rica 78 previous 87

Violations: Observed in walk-in cooler raw chicken beside raw pork chop, raw and precooked ham on same tray. In reach-in cooler raw chicken beside raw ground beef, raw bacon and ham over pickles. Observed dish machine below 160F.

5/14/2024: Stix 660 W Bankhead Highway Villa Rica 78 previous 83

Violations: Observed raw hamburger patties stored next to uncovered cheese and next to taco meat and bacon in reach-in cooler. Observed lettuce heads stored next to raw bacon and other erw meats in reach-in cooler. Observed black build up inside ice machine.

5/07/2024: Big Bear 401 Maple Street Carrollton 74 previous 92

Violations: Observed no certified food safety manager. Observed raw chicken stored on top of container of sugar/flour. Reach -n cooler, shelled eggs above ready to eat food. Raw squid behind onions. Walk-in cooler, shelled eggs beside carrots, raw chicken beside raw shrimp, raw beef beside cheese, raw chicken beside onion. Observed several buckets of different sauces stored directly on floor in walk-in cooler. Repeat violation.

5/22/2024: WNB Factory 1745 Hwy 27 S Carrollton 74 previous 81

Violations: Observed in walk-in cooler raw shelled eggs beside cooked chicken, raw hamburger beside raw shrimp, raw bason beside cooked bacon, raw ground beef beside raw chicken. Most current inspection report is not prominently displayed in public view.

5/06/2024: Jefferson’s 750 W Bankhead Highway Villa Rica 71 previous 76

Violations: Observed in walk-in cooler raw chicken beside celery, raw hamburger beside raw bacon, raw bacon beside ready to ear food, raw shelled eggs beside harboiled eggs. Observed inspection report out of public view. Observed multiple flies in kitchen.

Financial tips for widows and widowers

FRED O’NEAL

FINANCIAL ADVISOR

Losing a spouse is one of the most painful experiences anyone can have. Unfortunately, widows and widowers have to deal with more than just the emotional trauma — they also must consider a range of financial issues. If you’ve recently been widowed, what financial moves should you consider?

For starters, don’t rush into any major decisions. If you’re still in the grieving process, you are unlikely to be in the best shape to make significant choices affecting your finances and your life.

But once you feel ready to look at your situation objectively and make appropriate choices, consider the following steps:

Review your finances. Look at your entire financial picture — your assets, investments, debts and income. If you and your spouse had

communicated well about your finances, and you shared decisions, you hopefully won’t encounter any big surprises. But if your spouse was the partner who mostly handled financial matters, you may need to get up to speed quickly on what you have and what you owe. And if your spouse had provided a large amount of your household income, you will also need to determine what changes you may need to make to your lifestyle.

Address insurance issues. If you will receive a death benefit from your spouse’s insurance policy, what will you do with the money? It may prove helpful in funding your own retirement or meeting other financial goals. But you’ll also want to be clear about what other beneficiaries, such as your children, might receive. And while you’re looking at insurance, you also might want to look at your own policies — do you need to change beneficiaries?

Review your Social Security options. If you are at least 60 and you were married at least nine months, you may be entitled to Social Security survivor benefits. (If you

Carroll County marriage licenses

remarry before age 60, you typically cannot receive survivor benefits, but you can reinstate them if this subsequent marriage ends.) The amount of your survivor’s benefits depends on your age and the age of your deceased spouse. You can’t claim your deceased spouse’s benefits along with your own retirement benefits, so if you qualify for survivor and retirement benefits, you’ll receive the larger amount.

Finally, keep in mind that you don’t have to go it alone during this difficult time. If you’re already working with a financial professional, they can help. If you aren’t currently working with one, now might be the time to start.

Depending on your situation, you might come out ahead by delaying your retirement benefits, giving them the chance to grow, while you accept survivor benefits.

For more details on receiving Social Security benefits, visit the Social Security Administration’s website at www.ssa.gov.

Review your estate plans. The death of a spouse can certainly affect your family’s estate plans. So, it’s a good idea to review

these plans to see what changes, if any, need to be made. When conducting this review, you’ll benefit from working with an estate-planning professional. Finally, keep in mind that you don’t have to go it alone during this difficult time. If you’re already working with a financial professional, they can help. If you aren’t currently working with one, now might be the time to start. By looking at your finances and your family situation holistically, a financial professional can provide guidance that can help ease the stress you are naturally feeling. Few events are as sad as losing a spouse. But when you feel ready, start taking the steps necessary to continue forward on your life’s journey.

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

Carroll County pistol permits

Number of Weapons Carry Permits applied for: MAY 1-31, 2024: 169

Concerning Weapons Carry Permits:

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

Carroll County births

MAY 1-31, 2024:

Tanner Medical Center, Carrollton:

Females: 60 Males: 48

Tanner Medical Center, Villa Rica:�

Females: 21 Males: 30

Carroll County cattle receipts

Carroll County Livestock Sales Barn

225 Sales Barn Road, Carrollton

June 3, 2024: 739

May 27, 2024: 379

May 20, 2024: 511

May 13, 2024: 406

May 6, 2024: 639

Carroll County jail population

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

Total population as of JUNE 3, 2024: 413

Males: 499 Females: 86

Carroll County prison population

Total population as of JUNE 3, 2024: 238

Capacity: 246 Males: 100%

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

taken by the private company hired by the nursing home. J&T Environmental Services that offers water management and wastewater treatment services was hired by the nursing home.

J&T Environmental Services, Inc., a business formed in 1999 with principal office in Jackson,Georgia, lists Richard M. Jeffares as CEO. Jeffares spoke with StarNews and said they had rerouted the sewage, but wanted to connect with the city’s system instead.

The nursing home facility was built in 1986 with an operational onsite sewage treatment plant (see StarNews Oct. 2023 edition for full story and lated photos). But, in 2011 - 13 years ago - the Georgia EPD closed that onsite

RECALL PROCESS from front page

Secretary of State Election Division titled “Recall”. Recall signs have been ordered, and small groups are organizing a “boots on the ground” teamwork in the pursuit of recalling Council Member Anna McCoy, and possibly other council member(s).

Stating that the longtime situation with the City Manager Tom Barber was the “straw that broke the camel’s back”, the overall common sentiment was that “every resident in the City of Villa Rica should be represented by their council person and not be ignored.”

The Recall Application Process requires a identifying “grounds for submitting”, and there are five grounds to choose from:

1. has committed an act or acts of malfeasance while in office

2. has violated his or her oath of office

3. has committed an act of misconduct in office

4. is guilty of a failure to perform duties prescribed by law

REYNOLDS from front page

process. With his past career work experience at the state level in budgeting, Reynolds asserted that for the past six years he has been consistently, and often, urging the board of commissioners that more progress at the county level in governmental “best practice” ideas is needed, and that his ideas, comments, and critiques have been met with steadfast, even at times hostile, opposition.

Reynolds advised that he has several issues with the FY2024-2025 Budget and asked if he should reserve them until the following regular meeting when Chairman Michelle Morgan was expected to attend or go ahead at this work session. Searcy said she would be glad to address any of them that she could.

“Improvements that we could make have not been implemented,” he said, and added that Carroll County has not implemented government best budget process or zero-based budgeting, or performance-based budgeting, the last one being a method of starting with problematic departments and directors.

“We started that way,” he continued, “but now it’s just the chairman and Ms. Searcy, with the commissioners getting info from department heads as we can.”

“I do not support a 9% increase in budget when the CPI is 3%,” he flatly stated.

The CPI, or Consumer Price Index, is a way of measuring inflation on consumer goods and services.

“We have too many months of extra money [in the General Fund] and we are not proposing giving any revenue back to the people or paying down the county debt,” Reynodls said. “I am not an advocate of doing things behind closed doors. I am working for my constituents, not the elected officials.”

Reynolds then presented his ideas on where he specifically feels the county needs to focus its efforts to resolve its ongoing lack of systems:

wastewater plant, seemingly and somehow with the understanding that the nursing home would then connect with the City of Carrollton for proper sewage service. The nursing home is on the east side of Highway 27 and the city’s system is on the west side of Highway 27. To connect, a pipe must run from the nursing home under the highway and to the city’s system. Jeffares told Star News that he conducted a dig to find the connection (pipe) from the nursing home to the city and stated he did not find any connection, that his digging crew found “only fiber optic cables”.

Two City of Carrollton officials who disagree with this claim, spoke with StarNews and said there is a 2” force main pipe reaching the city on the west side (there is a manhole).

5. has willfully misused, converted or misappropriated, without authority, public property or public funds entrusted to or associated with the elective office to which the official has been elected or appointed

When asked what do you believe are the grounds for this recall, responses did not list a specific “ground” but complaints/issues were worded as follows::

1. “Mrs. McCoy’s failure to follow the city charter. . . she was one of the council members that voted to approve hiring a former mayor. . . Gil [McDougal] had been out of city office less than one year, which as stated in the city charter it was not legal to be hired to fill a position.”

2. “city charter and city employee handbook/ guidelines have been ignored by the Ward 4 Council Person.”

3. “Several issues with the recall form is we cannot use the fact that she is not concerned about what constituents views on issues might be or that her constituents have asked that she

1.An account needs to be set up for heavy equipment replacements and expensive repairs so the board is not informed of them on a “surprise” basis.

2.An account also needs to be set up for building maintenance and repairs rather than being addressed on a “hodge-podge” basis.

3.The county’s “system for rental rates is ludicrous.” Regarding the DDS he said, “we are using county taxpayer money to pay for a state-rented building. We need to set rental rates to offset the cost of maintaining those buildings.”

4.The county has no system in place to reward top-performing employees. He asserted that his ideas in this area have “fell on deaf ears time after time after time.” And although he thinks all employees should be paid at a rate comparable with other counties, he emphasized, “across-the-board raises reward mediocrity. We need to provide incentive for top performers to ensure that they stay here.”

5. The county needs to do a market study on wages.

6.The county spends very few dollars toward mental health, “and this is a kind of heartbreaker for me,” he said. In Georgia, one out of four people have some type of mental illness, and county does little to help in this area.

7.A plan is needed for the addition of property to the McIntosh Reserve, or GOSA (the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Act) funds will not be available to Carroll County due to the lack of an organized plan.

8.The county needs to hire a parks director who knows all the marketing aspects of the parks and can put more effort into funding for the park system, especially McIntosh Reserve since it is now in the sights of the Trust for Public Land (TPL) in its Chattahoochee RiverLands project, which includes a flurry of new plans to expand opportunities to hike, pedal, paddle, and even camp along this iconic

They said the pipe has been there for “quite awhile”, and, in fact, an exposed part of that 2” pipe required repair by the city “years ago”.

City officials stated it is the responsibility of the nursing home to incur the costs and put in this connection. Jeffares told StarNews the cost of this connection would be about $100,000.

To date, the nursing home has now paid $500,000 to the city for sewage service.

Jeffares said the city is not cooperating and was “stonewalling” him. City officials said they will indeed work with them to resolve this issue. This matter is currently being debated by attorneys.

Jurisdiction for inspecting the sewage flow at the nursing home falls under Georgia EPD, specifically it is the responsibility of Brian

hold meetings to hear views and concerns about how the city budgets are spent.”

4. “Unfortunately, the Oath of Office for any City Council Member is vague, but still Mrs. McCoy did ask the residents of Ward 4 to give her the opportunity to represent them! Yet, she has not listened to or been willing to set up a town hall for her Ward. She has been neglectful in answering emails from her constituents. Also, most of Ward 4 is in Mirror Lake and she has been invited to several of the HOA Board meetings to share thoughts and issues that affect her Ward. She has never taken the time to respond.”

Step 1 of the Recall Process for McCoy is the gathering of 100 names within her ward and those names must be gathered within 15 days of officially receiving the signature paperwork. At press time, the signature paperwork had not been requested or signed for.

After 100 names are gathered, specific grounds are decided and listed, and paperwork

river which stretches over 430 miles from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Florida Panhandle. McIntosh Reserve is perfectly set to become part of this project if Carroll County will get a plan ready.

9.Why not provide help to the libraries? The West Georgia Regional Library requested $45,000, but Chairman Morgan provided only $17,000 and that was only for the Neva Lomason Library. The Whitesburg Library only asked for $8,000 and was turned down.

“The Whitesburg Library is more than a library,” Reynolds said. “It’s like a community center for all of the small town of Whitesburg. What is $8,000 in a budget of $79 million?”

Searcy responded to his last question by saying “We have to be sensitive to other cities” within the county when budgeting money for individual libraries. As for thecounty debt, she said, “It’s your decision as a group. I’m okay with it.”

Searcy said that a cutback on taxes would mean a cutback on expenditures, to which Reynolds responded that he was only referring to the reserve in the General Fund (which is currently at $59,421,644 / current budget total is $73,227,341) although he is in favor of a full roll-back of the millage rate, a subject which has been brought up before.

“We only need enough for three to six months of operations, and we have eight to nine months reserve.” He finished his list of things he thought should be considered in the budget by saying, “The public needs to know what is being kicked around in budget sessions. I hope the board will keep these issues in mind.”

Reynolds had another issue to talk about not related to the budget, but rather the numerous complaints from citizens about a specific department: management of Animal Control Department.

District 3 Commissioner Tommy Lee and District 4 Commissioner Steve Fuller joined in on this subject, agreeing they have more

Boutelle, EPD, Stormwater and Drinking Water. Georgia EPD had the knowledge that it closed the nursing facility’s onsite wastewater treatment plant in 2011; it was EPD’s responsibility to return for a follow-up on sewage connection to the city; it was, is, and has been EPD’s responsiblity to inspect this nursing home’s sewage flow status on an annual basis for the past 13 years.

Richard “Rick” Jeffares served in the Georgia State Senate as a member of the Republican Party from 2010 to 2017. He represented Senate District 17 (Henry, Newton, and Rockdale counties). In 2018, Jeffares ran as a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Georgia. Jeffares is vice president of the Georgia Rural Water Association.

submitted, then Step 2 may begin: the verification process. According to the Secretary of State: “In the case of a municipal officer, the election superintendent of the municipality calls for the recall election and is authorized to examine registration records, take evidence and testimony and summon presons who signed the application in order to verify the signatures.”

Step 2 is The Petition Process. Recall petitions are official forms from the Secretary of State. Each person signing a recall peition must be a voter who resides in the electoral district of the officer sought to be recalled.

For Anna McCoy’s Ward 4, the number of signatures required to recall her is 30% of the active registered voters from the last election in which she was on the ballot.

The deadline for submitting that 30% is 45 days from first day of receiving petitions.

Step 3 is The Recall Election. The call must be made and published within 10 days after the receipt of the certification of sufficiency of signatures (the 30%).

complaints from residents consistently on this one department than any other. They assert the animal control staff should have quick response times on calls from residents about dangerous dogs roaming loose in their neighborhoods rather than telling people “we can’t deal with your problem” for weeks or even at all. Fuller said one of his constituents had a problem with a loose dog roaming for six months until he finally got involved directly with animal control. Commissioner Lee said, “We’ve added a full-time animal control person and still don’t get service from the staff.” Reynolds suggested that a performance-based budgeting experiment should be done first in that department, even though Chair Michelle Morgan fights on their side consistently.

District 2 Commissioner Clint Chance said he is in support of many of Commissioner Reynolds’ ideas, but in looking at the Fund Balance (cash reseve) he reminded everyone that the county received a considerable amount of money from the Federal Government by way of the ARPA Program designed to help cities and counties recover from losses incurred during COVID. Chance said that, regarding property tax, the county has a Floating Homestead Exemption enacted in 2002 that says the value assessment of a homestead cannot include inflationary values, but has to use values of the property in 2002 to calculate county tax. This does not include city or school taxes, but is unique to the county only.

In discussion of the FY2024 Budget Amendment, Searcy asked, “Do you want to increase the library budget for $8,000 for Whitesburg?’ to which all Commissioners agreed, and also do you want to pay the county debt down, and if so, by how much? The commissioners agreed on the amount of $500,000. The Budget Amendment will be voted on in the Regular Meeting on Tuesday, May 4th.

Meeting was then adjourned.

Spring Piano Recital at Old Pathway Baptist Church, Carrollton

Piano teacher MelissaDarby (shown near center) held her 3rd Spring Piano Recital at Old Pathway Baptist Church, Carrollton, Monday, May 27, 2004, with a crowd of about 150 in attendance. Darby has been teaching piano for four years in the West Georgia area and has students of all ages and abilities. Recital was also live streamed on Facebook @ Piano Lessons of Carrollton,GA. Old Pathway Baptist Church Pastor Joe Darby (Melissa’s husband) welcomed all and offered a prayer.

Several students received specific recognition earning one of the following: Composer Award, Challenger Award, Perseverance Award, Mastery Award, Most Improved Award, and Noteworthy Award. Some of the pieces performed included “Hallelujah to the Lamb”, “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms”, “There is Peace in Christ”, “If You’re Happy and You Know It”, “Fur Elise” and “Old Dan Tucker”.

Performing at the recital were 24 of her students: Kaisley Ayers, Karley Ayers, Alyssa Bass, David Bass, Sara Grace Boatwright, Hannah Daniel, Layla Davis, Sara Erlenbusch, Sadie Gaines, Abbie Joiner, Kameron Joiner, Kolton Joiner, Zachariah Kahler, Addalyn Key, Natasha Key, Chloe Knight, Kylie Knight, Kinsley Knight, Trystan Nix, Lacie Scarbrough, Ben Sweatt, Shalon Sweatt, Emily Smith, Gabe Wilson.

For more information, Melissa Darby may be contacted on Facebook @ Piano Lessons of Carrollton, GA. Old Pathway Baptist is located at 508 Old Airport Road, Carrollton. Photo and information by Sue Horn

And he never did. A few years later, while clearing my shelves of old books like, The Bluejacket’s Handbook, Bowditch’s American Navigator, and The American Merchant Seaman’s Manual, I recalled the biggest wave of Papa’s experience, and looked in those books to find mention of such. The Merchant Seaman had it! Winter of ‘27 in the North Atlantic; tallest wave ever really measured; 127 feet high! The measurement was taken while the ship was in a wave’s trough (and at the very moment she was level), by measuring the angle to the wave’s crest, and by using trigonometry,

“I have given out my number, and just one or two people came to talk to me, but others go and talk to somebody else” without knowing the full truth.

“We can’t please everybody,” she emphasized, “but if you don’t talk to me, don’t talk about me.”

Council Member Shirley Marchman also pointed out that so many people didn’t go to vote in the mayoral election, and if you don’t vote, how do you expect to have the right to complain.

the height of that wave became known. (There’s one more number missing from my recall, but that’s not important.)

So! Papa was there! How do you like that?

However, at the time of that discovery, I was in the middle of a teenager’s rebellion against his parents, and not talking to them. The situation lasted for years. So, I never bothered to tell Papa that I’d found corroboration for his experience. How do you like that?

He survived, and four years later he met Mama. And, no matter what your belief in Fate is, their marriage was not connected with the sinking (or scuttling) of the S.S. West Calumb

bling and get things done.”

The mayor stated “We need face-to-face and accurate communication.”

Mayor McPherson then informed everyone that House Bill 1487 had passed and was recently signed by Governor Kemp, giving her the authority to terminate the employment of Tom Barber.

Council Member Anna McCoy said the city would need a succession plan in place in order to terminate the city manager, and she made a promise that after her daughter graduates, she will go door-to-door in her Ward and see what everybody actually wants. As to Watermist, she said she understood that what was presented to the council during the work session was the final plat approval.

“So let’s stop all this bickering and grum-

“This is not personal or about retribution,” she stated, “but I am ready to replace him so our city can move forward.”

FARM INJURIES from page 18

stopping blood loss is job one. If the wound is where a tourniquet can help, use or make one. A blood pressure cuff can work as a tourniquet. If one isn’t available or the wound is in a place that can’t be treated with a tourniquet, put a bandage or cloth over it and apply pressure.

Follow recommendations of trained medical professionals offered via phone or once they arrive on scene.

Tourniquets should be placed between the wound and the heart. “If you’re shot below the knee, put one above the knee. If you put one on and that doesn’t stop it, you put another one on,” Martin said.

She continued by saying she wants a seamless and peaceful transfer of administration, and asked City Attorney David Mecklin to work with the City Manager Tom Barber to present an exit plan to be executed not later than Friday, May 17, 2024 [three days] at the close of the business day.

“The Grace of God is not limited to a select few,” Mayor McPherson stated, “and to all who have supported me, I thank you.”

She continued by saying she desires a peaceful transition if we can agree to one.

To the council, she plans to solicit thoughts on a permanent replacement, though she added, “I have several candidates who would be willing to step into that position if needed.”

She said the city needs the opportunity to heal, and concluded with “that is my ultimate desire.”

Editor’s note: Barbar was hired before HB 1487 was enacted, so it does not apply.

The smaller the diameter of the extremity –think lower shin as opposed to thigh – the greater the likelihood you’ll be able to compress the artery. “If you’re shot above your ankle, put the tourniquet below the knee, right above the wound entry,” he said.

• Mauling: If you encounter a person mauled by an animal, first ensure the animal can do no further danger. Then, stop the bleeding using a tourniquet or bandages and pressure.

• Snake bite: When possible, keep the body part where the bite occurred lower than the heart. Forget how snake bites are treated in movies.

“Do not cross hatch the bite wound and suck on it [to remove venom]. You want to reduce the flow of venom towards the heart. Don’t put a tourniquet on it. Don’t elevate it. If possible, head immediately toward the hospital for treatment,” Martin said.

If you’re bitten, get somebody to drive you.

• Frostbite: We may not associate coldrelated injuries like frostbite with Georgia’s warm climate, but they do happen. Martin recommends protecting the body part by covering it, then seek medical attention. “The skin that’s dead will peel off, he said. “Sometimes we must amputate, but not very often.”

This article is for educational purposes only. Follow recommendations of trained medical professionals offered via phone or once they arrive on scene.

BILL BOURIS from page 23

VILLA RICA CITIZENS from page 15

Keith Runels – Service Manager

Keith joined Merrell & Associates Inc. after 26 years with Southwest Atlanta Express Oil Change. Prior to his employment with Express Oil Change Keith was with Carroll EMC for 13 years, it was with Carroll EMC that he began his work in the HVAC market.

•Graduate of Central High School

•Attended West GA College where he played football for the legendary Coach Frank Vohan

•Attended West GA Technical College where he studied HVAC in the early 90’s

•Later graduated from Georgia Baptist Seminary and Bible College with a Doctrine in Ministries Services

Quote by Keith Runels :

“Service

Good or Bad will set you apart from all your competition, so we must be better than all of our competition”

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