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The Paper | Thursday, October 31, 2013
5A
Remembering a man Gambling charges filed who touched many lives By LEANNE AKIN
“He was so engaged in his sons’ lives,” said Blackburn of Paul’s time as dugout president while Taylor was involved in The sanctuary of Duluth First United football and band booster president when Methodist Church was filled nearly to caBryce wanted to play in the band. He was pacity on Oct. 23 as the full life of Emory serving as president of the band boostPaul Jones was celebrated. ers and rallied for the Living Dead Dash The Rev. C. Kay Funio and Taste of Flowery Branch said she only knew Paul held in September. “He was a from learning about him cheerleader for his boys,” he from family members said. and the many friends who And Paul was also a friend, reached out to her to share noted Blackburn, who comabout Paul. She said it is a mented on the turnout for the high compliment to have an visitation which lasted until 10 in-law say he was more like p.m. and this day’s celebration a son that a son-in-law, but of life. that is what wife LaDonna’s Paul’s life touched countparents thought of the less numbers of people. “If man who shared their life The late Paul Jones Paul saw someone in need, together. That life included he would take action to meet the birth of two sons, Taylor and Bryce, that need,” said Blackburn. But he also who inspired their father’s involvement had an ability to maintain the boundaries in their activities. that a successful banking professional Pastor Ty Blackburn said the loss of needs. He spent 30 years in banking and Paul at only 52 was a blow. While Funio preferred the small-town friendships that did not personally know Paul, Blackburn could be developed away from big finanhad known Paul since he was in eighth cial institutions. He was most recently at grade and the 11th-grade Paul invited Independence Bank. him into his circle of friends which inPaul took an interest in people and was cluded younger kids and those seven or involved with the Rotary Club of Braso years old. That spoke to the type of selton, which will be making a donation friend Paul was, reaching out to all. toward the memorial fund established at Blackburn said he hope there would Independence Bank, and with the bank’s be healing from remembering Paul’s life Braselton-Hoschton Relay For Life team. and friendship. Blackburn turned the He had recently enjoyed the Ole Miss celebration into just that as he noted that and Texas A&E game with Taylor, who is he had so many memories of Paul that away at college He, LaDonna and Bryce he could busy into laughter just recalling won trivia night last week at the Flowery one. He said fun was a word which appro- Branch BBQ place and he spent the Sunpriately described Paul. day of his death going to church, visiting “He could respond with cleverness and with his mother, watching the Falcons wit,” said Blackburn, who referred to game with family and doing work in the Paul’s good humor and his ability to pick yard which he loved. The following day, on you and wear it out although he was Paul was scheduled to go in for a stress laughing with you, not at you. test. A college baseball player, Paul pitched “But God’s timing in never accidental,” at Faulkner University where he was said Blackburn. He said that Paul had known as “The Dream.” Years later been rebaptized in the past couple of when his niece was on campus, she was weeks as he rededicated himself to God. talking to someone and mentioned her “Instantly, Paul was in the presence of uncle. “Your uncle was ‘The Dream’?” God.” Blackburn said, “He left a mark; he could While his passing leaves a large hole in strike a pose.” his family, large circle of friends and the Paul coached scores and scores of organizations in which he was involved, young men and also left his mark on memories of Paul Jones live on. While those young athletes, many of whom are he may have known more about baseball now young men. than musical instruments, there is beauty “He know how to have fun and he gave in angels singing and the beautiful piano us wonderful memories,” said Blackpiece performed during his service by burn, who also noted that Paul was all Michaelangelo Henegan inspired a sense about family. of calmness with its heavenly sound. lakin@clickthepaper.com
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The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant Oct. 24 at the CITGO Gas Station located in Hoschton. The search stemmed from an undercover investigation regarding illegal gambling machines within the store. The Sheriff’s Office seized four machines, ticket printer and an undisclosed amount of cash as a result of the search. Deputies also seized numerous packages of synthetic marijuana from the store. Criminal arrest warrants are being obtained for Malik Babwani of Lawrenceville. He will face charges of commercial gambling, keeping a gambling device and possession of gambling device or equipment. Babwani was not at the store at the time of the search and has not yet been arrested on the charges.
and financial transaction card fraud. The investigation is ongoing and more charges are anticipated. Williams is also wanted on similar charges by authorities in Gwinnett County, DeKalb County and Fulton County. Perry is wanted by California authorities on larceny charges. Drug Take-Back Day is a success: Sheriff Jackson County Sheriff Janis Mangum said Tuesday she considers the National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day a huge success. The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office was provided with a collection area at the Maddox Feed and Seed in Jefferson, and approximately 70 pounds of medication was collected at that site and at the permanent drop off site located in the lobby of the Jackson County Jail. The medication has been turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to be destroyed. Everyone is reminded of the Sheriff’s Office drug drop-off box located just inside the front doors of the Jackson County Jail lobby. Medication can be dropped off at this location at any time throughout the year. “Thanks to all that participated and a special thanks to Maddox Feed and Seed for providing the work area and thereby supporting the Sheriff’s Office effort and providing community support that led to the success of the collection of these medications,” said Mangum.
Arrests made in identity theft probe The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office arrested two men from Atlanta on Oct. 24 following a lengthy investigation regarding identity theft. The investigation led deputies to Atlanta where search warrants were executed. An abundance of evidence was collected. Jonathan Marcel Perry, 36, and Brandon Mitchell Williams, 30, both of Atlanta, were arrested and are currently in the Jackson County Jail with no bond. Both Perry and Williams have been charged with identity theft
WEST JACKSON FIRE REPORT ■■ Heavy smoke was reported in the Downing Street area on Oct. 20. A man with a fire pit behind his home was advised to burn only natural vegetation. The man said he had thrown a Styrofoam cooler in the fire which created a brief time of the heavy black smoke. ■■ Personnel assisted Med 3 in loading a patient at a Highway 124 EMS call on Oct. 22. ■■ An EMS call to an East Jefferson Street location was responded to on Oct. 22 and personnel assisted loading the man who had been stung by a bee. ■■ Personnel found nothing in the Highway 53 vicinity where they were dispatched on Oct. 22. An 18-wheeler with a blown tire was possibly sparking but no vehicle was found. ■■ The patient at a Hancock Place EMS call on Oct. 23 was taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center by Med 3. ■■ A man cut his finger with a saw at a Curk Roberts Road location on Oct. 23. The man, who declined transport, was provided additional gauze to control the bleeding while he went on his way
to Northeast Georgia Medical Center by private vehicle. ■■ A man who fell in the parking lot at Hoschton Towne Center on Oct. 24 was transported from Northeast Georgia Physicians Group to Northeast Georgia Medical Center. He struck his head and several lacerations and abrasions. ■■ Law enforcement assisted in unlocking a car on Jackson Trail Road on Oct. 24 so fire personnel were cancelled en route. A child was locked in the car. ■■ A driver who was locked out of a vehicle on Highway 53 was assisted on Oct. 25. ■■ Personnel utilized Engine 32 to extinguish an Oct. 26 authorized controlled burn on West Jackson Road at the request of the property owners. ■■ A two-vehicle accident with no injuries at Wehunt Road and Highway 332 was responded to on Oct. 26. Minor to moderate damage was reported to the vehicles which were blocking the roadway. The scene was turned over to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.
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