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Wednesday, October 17, 2007 The Braselton News Page 7A Public Safety Two charged with trafficking marijuana B raselton police charged two Bristol, Tenn., peo ple with trafficking mar ijuana on Thursday. An officer stopped a vehicle on 1-85 for a window tint violation, and said its driver and passenger seemed very nervous during the traffic stop. The officer asked the driver if police could search his vehicle, but the driver denied consent, accord ing to an incident report. A K9 unit from Phillips State Prison was asked to run around the vehicle to detect any hint of drug activity. The K9 officer alerted other offi cers on the scene of a possible drug hit on the vehicle, according to an incident report. Police said a brick of marijuana was found compressed in a trash bag in the trunk. Police charged Aaron Michael Kinzer, 26, with trafficking mari juana, no proof of insurance and window tint violation. Braselton police also charged Melissa Ann McElyea, 28, with trafficking mar ijuana. Both suspects were taken to the Jackson County Jail. BRASELTON ARRESTS The Braselton Police Department made the following arrests last week: •Kenny Lee, 44, 5130 Winter Haven Walk, Sugar Hill, DUI and failure to maintain lane. •Dianne Irby, 46, 4266 Roswell Road, Apt. K-1, Atlanta, DUI and failure to maintain lane. •Benjamin Jefferson Findley, 47, 3387 Bogan Road, Buford, DUI (second offense), speeding, driv ing while license suspended or revoked and habitual violator. •Danielle Marie Pair, 38, 636 New Liberty Way, Braselton, sim ple battery. •Jason Robert Wharlich, 32, 1812 103 rd Avenue, Oakland, Calif., speeding and driving while license suspended or revoked. •Khwans Mickens, 32, 6301 NW 7 Avenue, Miami, Fla., pub lic indecency and DUI. Braselton police said Mickens was seen by an officer urinating outside his vehicle parked at the intersection of Hwy. 211 and the 1-85 north bound exit ramp. BRASELTON INCIDENTS The following incidents were reported to the Braselton Police Department last week: •theft by taking at a Liberty Park Drive address at the Liberty Crossing subdivision, where a woman told police that someone entered a construction trailer and stole a computer. No other items were reported missing. An officer said pry marks were noted around one window on the construction trailer. •burglary and theft by taking at the Sherwin Williams paint store on Old Winder Highway, where police said the front window was broken. An employee told police that painting equipment valued at $1,500-2,500 was taken, along with an empty cash register. The employee also said the store’s alarm was not active. Police said a security cable to the store was cut and left on the floor. •theft by taking from the Cracker Barrel on Enterprise Drive, where three employees from a company told police that someone broke into their vehicle while they were eating at the restaurant. The men said the stolen items included sev eral credit cards, a lap top, several brief cases and a wallet. The men said their vehicle was locked, but an officer said there were no signs of forced entry. Worker falls from second-story window A construction worker was air lifted to an Atlanta hospital last week, after falling from a second story window at a new house. The 50-year-old man fell about 20 feet, and was complaining of hip, chest and head pain, accord ing to the West Jackson Fire Department. The man also cut his head on a brick that he landed on after the fall. The accident occurred in Traditions of Braselton. The West Jackson Fire Department provided rescue service for the patient, and another medical unit determined that the patient needed trauma care. The Jackson Trail Fire Department didn’t respond after three pages, according to an incident report. Emory Flight took the patient to Grady Memorial Hospital. The patient’s vital signs were reported within a normal range. No other details were available about the patient’s condition. Disaster drill planned Saturday in Statham Another Barrow County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) class is ready to perform a disaster drill. This time, the disaster is scheduled to hit the Laurel Park Subdivision in Statham, on Saturday, Oct. 20, at 9 a.m. “This brings an end to the train ing and allows the students to put the training they received over the last eight weeks to use,” said Robert Richardson, CERT presi dent. “It really helps to put your self out there and really see how you would do in certain situations.” After the drill, the students from the CERT class will have passed the CERT training and be able to join the team if they wish. “We are hoping that some Statham citizens will come out and watch the drill,” Richardson said. “That will help them see what the training is if they are interested in taking this fall’s CERT class.” The type of disaster drill is not being revealed before the event takes place. “Part of the test is the fact that the students will not know what to prepare for,” Richardson said. “In a true disaster you would not have a lot of advance notice and we are trying to make this as realistic as possible.” Those interested in watching the disaster drill should be in the area by 9 a.m. The disaster drill will take place with the help of the Barrow County Emergency Management Agency, Barrow County Fire and Emergency Services, Barrow County Sheriff’s Office, Statham Police Department, and the City of Statham and current members of the Barrow County CERT. Barrow, Gwinnett to participate in anthrax drill Barrow and Gwinnett counties will participate in a week-long exercise in October that will play an anthrax release scenario to test the effectiveness of working with volunteers from the business com munity in order to distribute medi cation to the affected population. The week-long exercise, which runs from Oct. 22-26, will include a one-day drill on Thursday, Oct. 25, in Barrow and Gwinnett counties. The event is being conducted by the Department of Human Resources Division of Public Health and the boards of health in five Georgia counties. The Community Continuity Atlanta Partnership (CCAP) exer cise is the result of an established working partnership between the Georgia Division of Public Health Office of Emergency Preparedness, Business Executives for National Security (BENS), Emory University, Hands on Atlanta, the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA), and county Boards of Health to develop an operations model based on the use of private sector volun teers working at the sites where medication will be dispensed to the general public during a public health emergency. Skywarn Storm Spotter class available The Barrow County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and the Barrow Amateur Radio Emergency Services Club will host a National Weather Service Skywarn Storm Spotter class on Tuesday, Oct. 30. The class is open to public safety personnel, CERT members, radio amateurs and members of the gen eral public. “This is another way for citizens of Barrow County to become pre pared for a disaster,” said Jimmy Terrell, director of the Barrow County Emergency Management Agency. “Every citizen that vol unteers in this or other disaster preparedness programs helps to make this county better prepared to handle a disaster.” The Skywarn spotter program is a nationwide network of volun teers that is trained by the National Weather Service to report signifi cant weather. Skywarn reports are relayed from volunteers while they are on the road, and at work or their home. Volunteers will be trained on what to watch for and how to report when they spot a tornado or severe thunderstorm. They will also be taught that it is important not to jeopardize their own safety while participating in Skywarn. When the weather conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms or tornadoes are expected, a severe thunderstorm or tornado watch is issued. A severe thunderstorms or tornado warning is issued when severe weather has been reported by a Skywarn spotter or indicated by Doppler radar. Skywarn volun teers become the National Weather Service’s eyes and ears, helping to provide better weather watch and warning systems, according to a statement. As far as amateur radio opera tors, the National Weather Service offices have HAM equipment on site. Skywarn nets run by volun teer amateur radio net controllers allow for reports to be directly heard at National Weather Service offices. The class will be held at the Barrow County Annex, in the board of commissioners room on the third floor. For more information, contact Cal Neff at 770-307-4699 or email at cneff 1 @ alltel.net. Volunteers needed for Barrow County drill Oct. 25 Hands on Atlanta is seeking volunteers to participate in an emergency preparedness drill on Thursday, Oct. 25, from 9 a.m. to noon, at the Barrow County Leisure Center, Winder. Volunteers of all ages and skill levels are welcome. The emergency drill is designed to test the response capability and collaboration between public and private groups who will be involved in the event of any actual emergency situation. The event is being sponsored by Hands on Atlanta, Business Executives for National Security, Georgia Public Health and Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health. To register, visit www. HandsOnAtlanta.org or con tact DaVida Lee-Williams, at 404-979-2800 or DWilliams@ HandsOnAtlanta.org. Narconon offers assistance for those with addictions Narconon of Georgia is offering help for drug and alcohol addictions. Narconon offers referrals, assessments, drug edu cation and out-patient rehabilitation. Narconon is a non-profit organization. For more information, call 1-877-413-3073 or visit www.drugsno.com. Mailbox damage reported across Jackson County Mailboxes were damaged at several locations throughout the county last week, according to incident reports that were filed at the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. Mailboxes were damaged at addresses on Old Kings Bridge Road in Nicholson, Zion Church Road in Braselton, Old State Road in Pendergrass, Jefferson River Road in Jefferson, Holiday Cemetery Road in Jefferson and Jackson Meadow Drive in Hoschton. OTHER INCIDENTS Other incidents in West Jackson reported to the sheriff’s office last week include: •verbal dispute between two motorists at a Wildflower Road, Braselton, address. •abandoned vehicle at a Hwy. 60, Braselton, address. •civil dispute between two peo ple at a Hwy. 124, Hochton, loca tion. •criminal trespass at a Hwy. 53, Braselton, address. DOMESTIC DISPUTES The following disputes in West Jackson were reported to the sher iff’s office: •battery during a dispute between a married couple at a Hoschton residence. •criminal trespass at a Hoschton location when a man was involved in a fight with his ex-wife and her boyfriend. THEFTS The following thefts in West Jackson were reported to the sher iff’s office: •identity theft against a Hoschton woman. •a Hoschton man said a man has some of his tools and equipment and will not return them. •theft by conversion at a Jackson Trail Road, Hoschton, address. Photo ID now required for services at hospital Patients receiving care at Gainesville’s Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) must now present photo identification at reg istration. Any form of valid photo identifi cation is acceptable, such as driver’s licenses or passports. If the patient does not have a valid photo ID, staff will take a picture of the patient to include in the patient’s medical records. “We are highly committed to patient safety and security of iden tities,” said Cindy Bryant, NGMC director of patient access. Having a photo in a patient’s medical record assists the health care team in ensuring proper patient identification. Many people have the same first or last names. Also, matching a photo with a name and other data about a patient helps staff protect the identity of those who are served. Identity theft is a concern that continues to increase on a national scale, and this small step will reduce the potential for this to occur in the healthcare arena, according to a NGMC statement. Patients who are having an elective procedure will be asked to resched ule the procedure until they can provide a current photo ID if they do not present a valid photo ID and refuse to have their photo taken. In addition, registration staff will now ask every patient about their U.S. citizenship status. The step is being instituted due to recent chang es in the Georgia Medicaid program regarding coverage of illegal aliens. Undocumented, non-U.S. citi zens will only qualify to receive emergency Medicaid for emergen cy medical care on a case-by-case basis. Therefore, citizenship status must be determined. For more information, contact NGMC at 770-531-3840. OIL CHANGE, LUBE, FILTER, TIRE ROTATION & ALIGNMENT $7095 Most Vehicles NOW OPEN AT DUNCAN’S CORNER! 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Men’s Haircuts $3.00 OFF (Reg. $11.99) Shampoo Included Satisfaction is Guaranteed With Coupon. Expires 11-30-07. Your only locally-owned community newspaper VnriMjf thrtommmitie* of Brutrllon. llvnUlun. Out tea* Hon. Mill Cirri. I Vr*t lutktouuiui Hull The Braselton News is published once a week on Wednesdays and is a member of the Georgia Press Association. For a map of news stand locations, visit www.BraseltonNews.com. MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. P. O. Box 908 • Jefferson, GA 30549-0908 Web Site: www.BraseltonNews.com • Main Phone Number: 706-367-5233 Mike Buffington, Co-publisher and Editor Scott Buffington, Co-publisher and Advertising Manager The deadline for submitting display and classified ads is Monday at noon. Call 706-367-5233 or fax 706-367-8056. Display Ads: ads@mainstreetnews.com Classified Ads: classifieds@mainstreetnews.com The deadline for submitting social and school news is Monday at noon. Fax items to: 706-387-5421 • News: news@mainstreetnews.com Reporters: Angela Gary, Amy McKown, Kerri Testement and Brittany Whitley To subscribe to The Braselton News, call 706-367-5233.