About StarNews. (Carrollton, GA) 20??-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 12, 2014)
n StarNews www.starnewsga.com Go to www.sti rom for local news daily! —'«/! 6S *2****++ ***** for •NE\a/sp<\ Pc JfONsr " ,Q A 30602-5002 ADC i 2^'"”” Care ~ Pa g e $ 9 Local restaururu , jJl !, J ll i l/Hl 1 19 28 770-214-9900 • P.O. Box 680 30112/318 Newnan Road. Carrollton, GA 30117 January 2014 500 StarNews monthly publication/ StarNews Online www.starnewsga.com VOLUME 20 NUMBER 1 The Best Brew in Town • Domestics • Imports • Micro Brews NOW OPEN SUNDAYS! 12:30 PM - 6 PM Mondays - Saturdays 9 am -11:45 pm 770-838-1000 • 804 Maple Street, Carrollton, GA StarNews offices in new location The StarNews and StarNews Online offices have moved from Westover Square Shopping Center, Carrollton, and are now located at 318 Newman Road. The locally owned newspaper was at the Westover Square location since 1999. Prior to that, StarNews (The Carroll Star News) was located at 114 Barnes Street, just off Adamson Square, 1996-1999. The newspaper moved from Bames Street when the cultural arts building construction began. From Oct. 1995 - June, 1996, the newspaper began its operations at 500 Hamp Chappell Road, Carrollton. “Smart cards” used in Europe better than credit cards in blocking hackers by Carole Scott The November/December theft nationwide from Target of the records of 40 million customers’ debit and credit card information exposed a serious security breach. But, in Europe, hackers have a more difficult time in stealing this See HACKERS page 15 Medicaid’s “Estate Recovery” can recoup costs after death by Carole Scott Some people receiving Medicaid benefits may not be have heard of “Estate Recovery”, a program required by federal law whereby Medicaid members with See ESTATE RECOVERY page 15 County’s bond rating by Standard & Poor’s rises to AA: 2013 rating based on 2012 performance by Carole Scott On Dec. 9, 2013, Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services raised its rating by one step to AA from AA- (minus) on Carroll County’s general obligation debt and Carroll City-County Hospital Authority’s revenue anticipation certificates, which are supported by the county. The series 2013 bonds are secured by a six-year special purpose local option sales tax (SPLOST). This is backed up by the county’s pledge if SPLOST revenues are insufficient of its full faith and credit toward bond repayment (making it a general obligation). This improved bond rating is based on the county’s performance during the prior year (2012). SPLOST is a voter approved special pur pose local option sales tax used to fund capi tal outlay projects. The November 2013 vote on SPLOST extended Carroll County’s SPLOST by six years to 2021. A Standard & Poor rating reveals the debt rating service’s opinion about the credit wor- See COUNTY RATING page 18 Villa Rica hires new city manager Scoring of COUnty Student Pat Crook replaces retiring Larry Wood • A -■ // -■ A «• achievement by “cluster” by Prissi Sullivan Pat Crook has begun her ten ure as Villa Rica City Manager following the retirement of Larry Wood. She comes to Villa Rica from Adairsville in Bartow County, where she served as city manager for 3 years. Prior to that, she was employed in Paulding County for a little over 18 years. She See CITY MANAGER page 25 by Prissi Sullivan During the month of October, Carroll County Board of Education held a series of “cluster” meetings throughout the county. The 24 Carroll County’s CASA Shown above left to right are Kathy Causey CASA Advocacy Coordinator, Beth Deets newly sworn CASA volunteer, Sheree Kimball CASA Advocacy Coordinator and the honorable Judge Thomas Parmer Carroll County Juvenile Court Judge. CASA volunteers assist minors through the court process looking out for their best interests. Call 770-838- 1964 for more information about becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate. day county schools have been divided into clusters, designated by the high school to which they feed: the Villa Rica Cluster, the Temple Cluster, the Mount Zion Cluster, the Central Cluster, and the Bowdon Cluster. Each cluster has a liaison at the county office. The public meetings are held See SCORES page 20 New law allows non-citizens 120 extension on driver’s license from press release On January 2, 2014, all Department of Driver Services (DDS) customer service centers statewide began following Senate Bill 122 which enables issuance of a one time 120 day extension for non-citizens who are waiting for updated paperwork from the Federal Government to remain law fully in the United States. To obtain Georgia licenses and ID Cards all applicants must prove lawful pres ence or U.S. Citizenship. Senate Bill 122 was passed during the last See DRIVER LICENSE page 20
