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36 Pages 3 Sections, Plus Preprints A Publication of MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. Winder, Barrow County Georgia 50« Copy Wednesday, November 23, 2016 mall Business Saturday: See specials inside Look inside this week’s edition for special holiday deals from local stores. Locally- owned businesses have pulled out all the stops to help you do your holiday shopping and save money right here in Barrow County this Saturday. — Pages 6-8B LOVE YOUR COMMUNITY: Spend locally! Statham mayor asks GBI to investigate police complaints By Ron Bridg'eman News-Journal Reporter Barrow Briefs Offices closed Thursday and Friday The offices of Mainstreet Newspapers, including the Barrow News-Journal, will be closed Nov. 24-25 in obser vance of Thanksgiving. We will reopen Monday at 8:30 a.m. Construction to begin on Fort Yargo raw water project in December The City of Winder will be starting construction on the Fort Yargo raw water project next month. The project will include replacement of the existing intake structure and pump sta tion at Fort Yargo Lake, as well as 30,000 linear feet of water main extending from Fort Yargo Lake to the city’s water treatment plant at the intersec tion of Rockwell Church Road and Ga. 53. Fort Yargo Lake serves as a backup to the city's prima ry water source, the Mulberry River. The upgrade will allow the city to withdraw its full per mitted amount from the lake during times of emergency. The city was awarded a loan to fund the project through the Georgia Environmental Finance Authority at a reduced interest rate of 0.89 percent. The project is scheduled to be completed during calendar year 2017. Online fundraiser set up for Barrow burn victim An online fundraiser has been established for Sue Lip scomb Fowler, a local woman and former longtime employee of the City of Winder who suffered third-degree burns on 36 percent of her body after passing out under hot water in the shower on Nov. 10. Fowler is at the JMS Burn Center in Augusta where she has undergone surgeries and battled various infections. Fowler was also diagnosed with Acute Respiratory Dis tress Syndrome. As of Mon day afternoon, the GoFundMe Page started for Fowler by her daughter had reached $9,440 of a $50,000 goal to help pay her medical expenses. The link to donate is https:// www.gofundme.com/sues-re- covery-fund. Mailing Label Below The mayor of Statham has requested an investigation into the actions of officer Marc Lof ton in the city’s police depart ment. Mayor Robert Bridges requested the Georgia Bureau of Investigation conduct an “inde pendent review’’ of complaints about Lofton. The City of Winder is in the middle of a major improve ment project downtown around the block surrounded by North Broad Street, West Athens Street, Woodlawn Avenue and West Candler Street. The project involves installing new storm water pipes and catch basins, utility work, sidewalks, new parking areas, renovation of A suspect is in custody in connection with a shooting at a Braselton gas station. Antonio Ward Gee Jr., 19, of Dacula. has been charged with felony murder, possession of a fire arm during the commission of a crime, reckless conduct and disorderly conduct. Gee is suspected of shooting and killing James Harold Walls. 56, of Flowery Branch, at the Circle K gas station on Satur day. Oct. 29, around 1 a.m. Gee is currently incarcerated at the He wrote a brief letter to Mike Ayers, special agent in charge of the GBI office in Athens Nov. 17. Lofton is the subject of a number of citizen complaints about his honesty, techniques and manner. More than 20 people attended the council meeting Nov. 15 to complain about Lofton, includ ing Police Chief Allan Johnston and city officials. existing parking areas, landscap ing. pedestrian lights, benches and trash receptacles. Among the work being com pleted is a reconstruction of the old public parking area off West Candler Street behind the Smokin’ Po Boys restaurant on Athens Street. The work involves making the parking lot surface smoother and Barrow County Jail. He had previously been arrest ed this year for failure to yield while turning left, reckless con duct and theft by receiving sto len property. Officers with the Braselton Police Department tracked down Gee after finding the sil ver Honda vehicle that had been seen on surveillance video at the gas station. The vehicle owner, Christopher Carneiro, 30, of Athens, reportedly told officers that he let Gee borrow his vehi cle. Carneiro was also arrested and is facing charges of pos- Residents of Statham and sev eral people from other areas complained about Lofton. Ten people spoke. Those who complained said six DUI charges issued by Lof ton had negative results for drug and alcohol screening. Opponents of the officer start ed an online petition calling on the city to investigate and/or fire Lofton. About 400 people signed that petition. building handicap-accessible ramps for pedestrians to have easier access to the block along Athens Street. Also in the area of the old Granite Hotel at the intersec tion of Athens and Broad streets, additional downtown parking is being built. All of the work began in October and is scheduled to be completed spring 2017. session of a firearm by a con victed felon. Other charges are pending. Officers aren’t certain of the motive, but think it may involve a robbery. The suspect reported ly met Walls at the Waffle House for a deal before driving over to the gas station. Walls was shot at the gas pump of the Circle K. There have now been five arrests in connection with the shooting. Angela Nicole Baker, 28. Oakwood, was with Walls the night of the shooting. She was See Suspect on Page 7A In his letter. Bridges said, “Numerous citizens as well as residents of other areas have complained about his actions and techniques. “The city’s police chief has reviewed several of these com plaints and determined that no action is warranted. “Despite that fact, in this envi ronment in which trust between a community and its police Level 2 drought response declared Based on recommen dations by the Georgia Environmental Protection Division. Gov. Nathan Deal approved a Level 2 Drought Response desig nation for more than 50 counties in north Georgia, including Barrow County, on Thursday. During a Level 2 Drought Response, out door landscape watering is only allowed two days a week determined by odd- and even-numbered addresses. Even-numbered address es and properties without numbered addresses may water on Wednesday and Saturday between 4 p.m. and 10 a.m. Odd-num bered addresses may water Thursday and Sunday between 4 p.m. and 10 a.m. Prohibited outdoor water uses include: • •Washing hard surfaces such as streets and side walks. •Water for ornamental purposes, such as foun tains. •The use of fire hydrants, except for firefighting and public safety. •Non-commercial wash ing of vehicles. •Non-commercial pres sure washing. •Fundraising car wash es. As drought conditions worsen across much of the state, 52 counties have been elevated to Level 2 status while another 58 in the southern portions of the state have been desig nated Level 1. See Drought on Page 2A Index: Church News 10A Classifieds 4-5C Legals 6-11C Obituaries 11A Pets of the Week 2C Public Safety 7-9 A Sports 1-12B See Statham on Page 7A Making improvements ~ ■. ' . ■'' w ONGOING CONSTRUCTION Construction continues recently in the old public parking area off West Candler Street in downtown Winder. The area is being reconstructed to be more level and will include handicap-accessible ramps leading toward the area of Smokin’ Po Boys on Athens Street. The work is just a little bit of a major improvement project on the block that includes West Candler Street, West Athens Street, North Broad Street and Woodlawn Avenue. Photo by Jessica Brown Downtown block upgrades continuing in heart of Winder, work set to be done in the spring Braselton murder suspect arrested By Alex Pace News-Journal Reporter