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Barrow g Journal
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Vol. 3 No. 4
26 PAGES 3 SECTIONS
Wednesday, November 17,2010
A publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc.
WINDER, BARROW COUNTY GEORGIA 30680 250 COPY
•In the kitchen with
Shoshana Rowell
page 1C
•Thoughts from Shelli
Bond Pabis
page 1C
Fallout from fire controversies
Fire officials disciplined for testing, training record irregularities
BY SUSAN NORMAN
Recent discoveries of testing and
training-record irregularities at Barrow
County Emergency Services have led
to disciplinary actions against the two
leaders of the department.
Barrow County Board of
Commissioners chairman Danny
Yearwood on Monday issued an imme
diate 24-hour unpaid suspension to
Bryan Bullock, deputy chief of edu
cation and safety, for “manipulating”
scores on job applicants’ pre-employ
ment tests.
Bullock and interim chief John
Skinner also received written repri
mands for widespread training-record
Barrow Journal investigation
deficiencies discovered by state train
ing managers during a site visit in late
October.
In addition, the disciplinary
notices obtained Tuesday by the
Barrow Journal disclosed that written
reprimands were to be issued to two
fire lieutenants in connection with the
training-record deficiencies.
The Nov. 15 disciplinary actions
came days after a closed session of
the full BOC. After the closed session
at the end of the board’s regular Nov.
9 meeting, no votes were taken about
the planned disciplinary actions and no
statements were issued.
The disciplinary actions are some
of the fallout from the recent effort of
former Barrow County fire chief Mitch
Kitchens to return to the department as
a basic firefighter/emergency medical
technician.
Critics of his tenure as chief,
which ended in 2007, contacted the
Barrow Journal in early October and
raised questions about whether fire
officials had bent any rules to help him
get back into the department.
The newspaper investigated the alle
gations and reported on Oct. 13 that
he had failed the department’s pre
employment test last November, but
was given extra points to enable him
to pass.
The article also pointed out that
documents indicated he had spent only
43 minutes logged into a 36-hour EMT
refresher course taken through the fire
department.
The Georgia Department of
Community Affairs’ Office of
Emergency Medical Services and
Trauma announced on Oct. 19 that
it had opened an inquiry into the fire
department’s EMT training.
See Fire on page 9A
•Galaxy Golf hosts
ribbon cutting
page 2C
Opinions:
•'Enjoyable trip home
needed in many ways'
page 4A
•'The problem with
pride'
page 5A
•Letter to the Editor
page 5A
Sports:
•WBHS swimmers dive
into new season
page 1B
•Cheer Doggs finish as
state runner up
page 1B
•WBHS football looks
to 2011 season
page 1B
Also inside:
•Church News
page 6C
•Classifieds
page 7C
•Obituaries
pages 4-5C
•Public Safety
pages 6-8A
Online:
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In honor of service
PAYING TRIBUTE
(Top) Andy Smith and Bebe Wells prepare for the annual Barrow County
Veterans Day service held at Barrow Memorial Gardens last Thursday.
(Bottom) Jerry A. Stewart and American Legion Post 53 commander Mark
Finley bring a wreath to honor those who have served. Richard Kohus
is also shown in the background. John Mobley, Post 53 chaplain, and a
retired Lt. Col. from the United States Air Force, has helped direct the local
ceremony for 35 years. See more coverage on page 1C in today’s edition.
Photos by Lyn Sengupta
Utility profits fill Winder’s operating gap
BY SUSAN NORMAN
Winder’s city government weathered the
second year of the national recession with
its finances intact.
But the annual financial report released to
the public last week shows it was not an easy
achievement.
For fiscal year 2010, which ended June
30, the city’s general operating revenues
were stable, dropping by only $93,000, and
spending was significantly below the previ
ous year’s level due to personnel reductions
and other measures.
Nevertheless, expenditures continued to
significantly outpace revenues from taxes,
fees, fines and other governmental funding
sources.
So the administration transferred $3.5
million from the city’s utility operations to
bridge the shortfall.
See Winder on page 2A
Movie theatre in
works for Barrow
Soon movie goers in Barrow County will not have to go
elsewhere to check out the latest big screen features.
Carmike Cinemas, Inc. announced Tuesday it will be
working with Combs & Bartlett, LLC, based out of Winder,
to build a 12-screen theatre with 2,328 seats.
The theatre will be located on Exchange Boulevard at the
new Gateway at University Parkway project in Bethlehem. It
is scheduled to open in late 2011.
The new cinema will be located on the north side of
University Parkway (Hwy. 316) near the intersection of
Hwy. 81. The arrangement will feature a new Carmike state-
of-the art entertainment complex, a news release from the
company said.
Amenities for the new 45,000-square foot 12-plex will
include stadium style, high-back seating throughout the
entire complex.
See Movie on page 10A
Fiscal restraint salvages
county’s FY2010 status
BY SUSAN NORMAN
The county’s audit for FY2010 has not been completed,
but Barrow County chief financial officer Rose Kisaalita told
the Barrow County Board of Commissioners last week that
although the county appears to be in the red, the government
appears to have ended the fiscal year in significantly better
shape than expected.
She said the government collected about $1.5 million less
than budgeted, but it also spent almost $1.2 million less.
So instead of a $1.5 million deficit for the year, the county
had a shortfall of about $353,000 on Sept. 30. Kisaalita said.
Department managers and elected officials all spent less
than their departments’ final budgets.
The biggest areas of savings were in Roads & Fleet,
which spent $259,944 less than budgeted, Barrow County
Emergency Services ($182,188 less), the Sheriff’s Office
($130,795 less), the Clerk of Superior Court ($97,704 less).
Parks and Recreation ($86,852 less), and E-911 ($78,038).
See Budget on page 2A
SPECIAL HONOR
Betty Jo Maddox, left, officially accepted her award
as Barrow Businesswoman of the Year at the annual
Women of the Year luncheon Nov. 10. The event
was sponsored by the Barrow County Chamber of
Commerce. “The chamber has always been special to
me,” Maddox said. “We can never rest on our laurels,
I won’t do so, and I expect you not to either,” she said.
Maddox is shown with Gwen Hill and her son, Chris
Maddox. Photo by Matt Wheeler