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♦ TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2006 6B U.S. Attorney's office ready to field election complaints By RATLIGHTNER Journal Staff Writer In order to respond to com plaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses today, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will have a district election officer on duty while polls are open. Unites States Attorney Maxwell Wood, Middle District of Georgia, said there are “very few, about HERO From page tA When asked why he would volunteer for the service, his answer was simple: “Didn t like plowing or that mule much.” During his service time Abrams rose in rank pretty quick - especially consider ing he enlisted at 18. He attained the rank of chief petty officer and led the maintenance team on the aforementioned USS Hogan. This duty position, he said, gave him the ear the ship’s captain from time to time - in turn helping him to help balance out a way ward sailor or two. When the ship needed repair Abrams said “he” was the chief the captain relied on. Abrams had many stories of a ship, which led the way, in many actions. Primarily an Atlantic fleet asset, the Hogan was later to become a ship of the Pacific conflict. Seeing action in places that many did not come home from, Abrams recalls a day anchored just off Iwo Jimo. The Hogan had been one of 880 U.S. ships that had sailed from Hawaii to Iwo in 40 days. The Hogan’s crew had assisted the convoy with mine detection. The crew had also assisted the land ing ships to bring the men into the beach. “The day was rough from where we stood,” he said. “But a moment that stays in my memory was watching the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima. There on the bow no one said a word, we had seen many of the troops as they fell during the battle.” The ship stayed on duty months at a time. Abrams said they were unable to get many repairs as they had just entered the most con- SUSPECTS From page iA officers responded to an armed robbery at Total Beauty Supply, 1239 Watson Blvd. The victim, Lee Friend, told police a black male came into the business around 7:40 p.m. and walked directly to the front of the counter. The suspect threatened Friend with a Ix 6 board, and told her to give him the money. Friend’s hus band came out of the back room and confronted the suspect, who then fled the scene on foot, and was last seen running east on Watson Boulevard. There were no injuries in this incident. The suspect is described as a black male, approx. 5-foot, 10-inches to 6-foot in height, with a slen der build. He was last seen wearing a brown jacket, blue jeans, a black knit type hat, and had some type of blue mask covering the lower portion of his face. Anyone with information on either incident is asked to contact Det. Shane Mann with the Warner Robins Police Department-Criminal Investigations Division at Great Peals Free AD for items under SSO Call 987-1823 for details half-dozen complaints a year” over the 70-county district. “It’s a very miniscule issue in our district,” Wood said. “We have one on call every election day,” he added, “this is our third election.” Wood appointed Assistant U.S. Attorney Henry J. Fox Jr., as district election offi cer for the 70-county Middle District of Georgia to handle complaints of fraud and vot lH II / LJpH ENI Gary Harmon Jimmy Abrams holds a picture of his ship. tentious part of the Pacific conflict. On one particular port visit, the ship was uploading supplies near Saipan from the USS Pennsylvania when Japanese planes came in for several strafing runs. The USS Hogan was near ly empty and seated high in the water, said Abrams, still the waves and the action of the large bombs, slung the Hogan into the side of the USS Pennsylvania ruptur ing the hull of the Hogan above the water line. As the ship strove to break the ropes and head out to seas boiling from all the explosions, Abrams said he had a hard time patching the hole in the ship since he could not patch the outside of the hull. Abrams and his crew (478) 929-6911 or (478) 929- 6909. HoviPprici f < Just Fill Out & Return The Form Below Or Call Our Office At 478-987-1823 \ , Name: Phone: Address: _ City: State: Zip: Email: - $19.26 - $38.52 - $66.34 (Above prices include tax) Credit: IZH Master Card CU VISA EH Discover - Card #: ( Jlaustmi lomwl ing rights abuses in con sultation with the Justice Department and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropri ate authorities. “Elections are usually a state matter, “Wood said, “unless it vio lates civil rights.” The program is the local portion of the Justice Department’s Election Day Program started in 2002 as the department - wide Ballot worked to patch the breech and to bail water. The entire repair took nearly 48 hours, mainly due to the breech being between the bulk heads. Abrams recalled - a little embarrassed - the captain issuing orders over the loud speaker: “All hands regard i s.diay Quity j \ R<claxcn /' (All Specialty Styles are EXTRA!!) First Time Clients Only CALL TAMALA FOR APPOINTMENT (Walk-ins welcomel 2203 WATSON BLVD. SUITE Z. WARNER ROBINS, GA. 31088 (NKX ITO GROOM TRANSPORTATION IN THE Oil) WAL-MART PI AZA) (478)329-1226 SHOP • (478)442-1332 CELL RO. Box 1910 • 1210 Washington Street • Perry, GA 31069 478-987-1823 —■ LOCAL Access and Voting Integrity Initiative. Wood said most of the com plaints are referred to the Secretary of State’s office. “We supplement what’s available, we’re not compet ing with them.” Wood said, “election fraud and voting rights abuse dilute the worth of votes honestly cast. They also cor rupt the essence of our rep resentative form of govern less of rank ... if Abrams tells you to do it something, All-You-Can-Eat Shrimp-$10 95 /Catfish-$9 95 Friday & Saturday - spm -10 pm i ■ wm an ment.” Any one who has infor mation suggesting electoral corruption or voting rights abuses should call the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI or the Civil Rights Division. Fox can be contacted 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. today, or the following • day at the U.S. Attorney’s Office at 752-3511 or 621- 2700. Wood said the Federal Bureau of Investigation will do it without question.” An unusual fitting had to be developed to seal the opening but because of his focus the ship was able to stay in action for an addi tional four or five months without docking; a stroke of luck considering the pound ing that the small fleet was taking at the edge of the Marianas. The only loss of life, for the crew of the USS Hogan, Abrams said, was in a return trip from Casablanca. The ship took a terrible beating from an Atlantic storm, dur ing which, one man was lost. Abrams said this was the only casualty for the crew the entire time he was on the ship - an unusual record for the action seen by this minesweeper. A long road through many adventures, but the Georgia native made it back to his homeplace in Grovania. Abrams did not return until ( AUCTION ) Sat.. 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V HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL have special agents avail able in the district to receive allegations of election fraud and other elections abuses. The FBI can be reached at 745-1271. Complaints about bal lot access problems or dis crimination can also be made directly to the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section in Washington, D.C., at 1-800- 253-3931 or (202) 307-2767. 1946 since he was still obli gated to the Navy for one more year. Not much fanfare greeted his return, but just being home was a great reward. Abrams returned to farming and in 1952 married Mary Ellen Mathews. Prime Rib Seasoned to Perfection we*"**** 1.75 (kH 135 • 987-W77 My Grandpa We love him! V vw\/ 2,190* Acres Timberland Selling for HMK Timherlatul * Prop 105 • 69* Acrts Divided Greenwood Co. Gulledge Road • Hunting • 18 Year Old Ember Prop. 106 - 255* Acres Divtdotf, Abbeville Co Rock Hill Rd {SC Road 117) • Merchantable Timber Prop. 107 ■ 319* Acres - Divided, Abbeville Co lake Secession & Suber Roads • Timber • Hunting Prop. 108 640* Acres • Divided, Abbeville Co Barns Station Rd (SC Rd 79) • Evceflent Investment 40018 1 00039949