Newspaper Page Text
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Barrow it Journal
www.barrowjournal.com rianrnia’e Roct Woolrlw Panor 0D10.0D17
Georgia’s Best Weekly Paper, 2012-2013
Vol. 6 No. 26
22 PAGES 2 SECTIONS plus inserts
A publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. WINDER, BARROW COUNTY GEORGIA 30680
500 COPY
Husband working in tax office
Relationship with private vendor and county raises ethical questions
By Susan Norman
snorman @ barrowjournal. com
The husband of Barrow County’s tax
commissioner has been working for his
wife’s office through a previously undis
closed business relationship with the
company helping her collect delinquent
property taxes. But he is being paid indi
rectly through a LLC created in the name
of the couple’s daughter, raising both
legal and ethical questions.
Kendall Williams,
husband of Tax
Commissioner Melinda
Williams, reportedly
went to work in the Tax
Commissioner’s office
around 2008 when his
private trucking firm was
hard hit by the recession.
He was hired by a private firm the
tax office uses to collect unpaid taxes.
He is paid $45 per title
search.
But the firm doesn't
pay Williams directly.
Instead, it writes checks
to NEGA Title LLC, a
limited liability firm set
up in the name of the
couple’s daughter. The
LLC was created only to collect pay
ments for the title work, said Melinda
Williams. The daughter’s LLC was incor
porated in October 2012, which would
have been a little over a year after she
graduated from high school.
“It’s not illegal,” Melinda Williams
said this week.
Asked if it were ethical, she responded,
“Maybe not.”
She added: “We’re trying to pay the
bills.”
See Tax Office on Page 2A
MELINDA
WILLIAMS
KENDALL
WILLIAMS
Auburn to
celebrate its
new museum
By Cindy Edge
cindy. edge. ce@ gmail. com
The Auburn Downtown
Development Authority is
preparing for the opening of
the Auburn Museum which
will coincide with National
Historic Preservation Month.
But, according to DDA
coordinator Tracie Pollard,
what started out as a ribbon
cutting for the museum has
now grown into an all-day
event.
At a DDA meeting held
Thursday night, Pollard
reported “Auburn History and
Heroes Celebration” is sched
uled for May 17 and since that
is also Armed Lorces Day, it
would only be appropriate to
honor the military as well.
The National Guard will
be present and static mili
tary equipment will be on
exhibit. The event also
includes caboose tours, live
music, activities for the kids,
and a “Backyard Barbecue
Challenge.”
Lor more information, con
tact Pollard at Auburn City
Hall at 770-963-4002, ext.
206.
In other business at the
DDA meeting:
•Pollard reported the city is
seeking pictures that can be
duplicated and framed, and
any other items of historical
significance to place in the
museum.
See Auburn DDA on Page 14A
WELCOME
ta tke (scutufiy!
1USCI7
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Barrow ■! journal
Index:
Athlete of the Week 2B
Classifieds
5-7B
Obituaries
11A
Pets of the Week
4B
Public Safety
6-7A
Sports
1B
Contact:
Phone:
770-867-6397
Fax:
678-425-1435
Mail:
77 E. May St.
Winder, Ga. 30680
Web: www.barrovyjournal.com
Easter Eggs
Everywhere...
Saturday event
” W' V T
at AHS fun for
kids of all ages
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SPRING COLORS
Children, including Christian, 5, and Kira, 6, Clapp, had more than
their share of opportunities to gather up Easter eggs during an
event sponsored by Chick-fil-A at Apalachee High School Saturday.
Thousands of eggs were dropped from a helicopter on the field at
R. Harold Harrison Complex. Photos by Jessica Brown
& e*" | tin. |
GcCKrc" GOCHtE
WPD officer fired
By Susan Norman
snorman @ barrowjournal. com
A Winder police officer who remained on active duty
after failing the annual firearms testing in early April
has been terminated. Based on records obtained from
the city clerk, Chief Jim Lullington fired Officer Jarvis
Brown on April 7.
City records indicate that after months of field train
ing, Brown was placed on “duty status” as a sworn offi
cer on March 12. But over the next three weeks, there
were several incidents that caused the chief to conclude
that he was “not at the point you need to be as a Winder
Police Officer for the safety of you, fellow officers and
the general public.”
Lullington’s notice to Brown, who was still on proba
tion, didn’t cite the specific incidents.
Brown was one of three officers who did not meet
the annual firearms qualification standard on April 1.
After attempting twice to meet the minimum standard
of 240 points, but scoring only 225 points both times.
Brown left the field rather than try the third time he was
allowed.
Unlike two female officers who tried all three times
and failed, Brown didn’t suffer any immediate conse
quences for his failure to qualify.
The two women were required to turn over their guns
and badges and have been taken off the streets until they
qualify.
See Winder Police on Page 3A
RMS students improve on
8th Grade Writing Test
Unlike many other students across the state, Russell
Middle School students showed areas of improvement
in this year’s 8th Grade Writing Test.
RMS students maintained the same low failure rate
as the year before, but it doubled the percentage of stu
dents who excelled on the test from 2013.
Both RMS and Haymon-Morris Middle School stu
dents had among the lowest failure rates in the state for
2014 on the test.
Westside Middle School and Bear Creek Middle
School (formerly Winder-Barrow Middle School) saw
more students failing the test this year and fewer stu
dents exceeding expectations.
See Writing Test on Page 14A
10th District Congressional
hopefuls vie for open seat
By Chris Bridges
cbridges @ barrowjournal. com
With the clock continuing to tick
down to the May 20 primary, the seven
Republican candidates battling for the
open 10th Congressional District seat met
in another forum Saturday, this time in
Monticello.
The 10th Congressional District, which
covers a large area including Barrow
County, has an open seat due to incumbent
Paul Broun deciding to run in the primary
for United States Senate. All seven GOP
candidates were at Saturday’s forum, held
at Jasper County High School, including
Mike Collins, Gary Gerrard, Jody Hice,
Donna Sheldon, Stephen Simpson, Brian
Slowinski and Mitchell Swann.
Following opening comments, each
candidate was given an opportunity to
express their views on a range of top
ics from illegal immigration, abortion
and removing the current Speaker of the
House.
On the issue of abortion, each candidate
termed themselves “pro life” although
Gerrard, an attorney, said his idea of the
term was different from the other candi-
Election 2014:
dates.
“I believe options should always be
presented other than abortion,” Gerrard
said. "However, as a man and as an elect
ed official. I would not use the gun of
government to force a woman not to do
something. That must be her choice.”
On the other end of the spectrum, Hice
said he was “pro life with no exceptions.”
Slowinski said he was "pro life” except
when the mother’s life is at risk. “You
have the right to preserve your life,” he
said.
Slowinksi said it is important to stress
options such as adoption and noted he and
his wife, a doctor, have six adopted kids.
Sheldon and Collins simply stated they
were "pro life,” while Simpson said he
believes life begins at conception and ends
at a natural death.
Simpson said he has always encouraged
people who are pro life to invest in adop
tion options and to help educate people on
other choices.
See Forum on Page 11A
SAFE AND SOUND
Despite fire damage to a home on Bethlehem
Church Road, a pet cat was rescued and returned
to its owners. The fire investigation team is look
ing into the origin and cause of the blaze. See
more details about this and other fires on page
7A in today’s edition.
