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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
